Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Changing winds may transport recent storm snow into deep pockets on several aspects
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / Alpine temperature -7 C / Light to moderate north windMONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate north wind / Alpine temperature -7TUESDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation 10-15cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity reported in the south of the region. Some loose snow sluffing from steep terrain has been reported. Changing wind directions may develop new wind slabs in the alpine. There was a report of a size 2.5 natural avalanche in the northern part of the region. This may have happened in the last 3 days and possibly failed on a persistent weak layer buried early february on a NW aspect in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
A recent addition of up to 5cm of new snow has not changed the snowpack structure since the weekend. A new layer of surface hoar may have been buried early Monday morning. Recent clear cold weather and shifting winds have created a variety of surface conditions including isolated wind slabs, pockets of soft snow (15-25 cm deep), sun crusts, and surface hoar. A supportive rain crust exists below 1000 m. A layer of surface hoar that was buried on February 10th can be found buried 30-60 cm deep at tree line elevations and has been reactive in some recent snowpack tests. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally settled and strong. The exception is shallow snowpack areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.