Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: A frontal system takes a small bite out of the ridge Tuesday resulting in very limited precip for the northwest corner of the province. The ridge comes back with a vengeance Wednesday and should persist through the weekend.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 1500m; Precip: Trace Wind: Lht, W/SWThursday: Freezing Level: 3000m; Precip: Nil; Wind: Lht, W Mod NW at ridgetop.Friday: Freezing Level: 3000m; Precip: Nil; Wind: Lht, NW, Mod NW at ridgetop.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations from the weekend. The last significant cycle tapered off Jan 15th. It featured natural avalanches to size 3.5 with releases on all aspects and elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Previously strong winds have left widespread wind loading/wind damaged snow in their wake. Warming temps along with a bit of rain at lower elevations has formed a variety of crusts at and below treeline. The early January surface hoar is most prevalent at treeline. It was a player during the last cycle even in low angled terrain. Look for it in the upper 50 cm of the snowpack. Professionals continue to keep an eye on the basal facets which can be found down near the ground.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.