Conflicting weather forecasts may make the hazard go up in some areas due to higher than expected snowfall amounts. Be aware of changing conditions and plan accordingly. MM
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
Despite the Environment Canada forecast, we are only expecting light amounts near the divide in the next 24 hours. The question will be how much we get from the convective activity that is ongoing. Winds are forecasted to die off overnight and become variable in direction. Freezing levels will steadily drop over the next 24 hours as well.
Avalanche Summary
A few small pockets of windslab were seen from the last couple of days and some larger wet loose avalanches are still visible from awhile ago.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10cms today with the convective flurries. Storm slabs were thin and sporadic, but reactive to ski cuts. With the forecasted precip and winds, these could be an issue in the wrong area (terrain traps). Below that isolated pockets of buried, reactive windslab exist in the ALP. For the most part these seem to be difficult to trigger. Compression tests today only gave hard results with non planar breaks.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.