Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
Overnight and Wednesday: Alpine temperatures dropping down to about -11.0 and the freezing level remaining at valley bottoms during the day. Southerly winds are expected to increase to 40 km/hr with light to moderate snow fall.Thursday: Continued light to moderate snow fall with lighter South winds. Freezing level at valley bottoms.Friday: Another day of light to moderate snow fall. South winds are expected to increase and the freezing level should rise to 1000 metres.
Avalanche Summary
Some thin wind slabs were released from ski cutting on East thru Southeast aspects at treeline.
Snowpack Summary
Strong Southwest winds are re-distributing new snow into wind slabs, and reverse loading areas that were stripped by recent Northwest winds. These wind slabs may be sitting above recently developed surface hoar and surface facets in area where they were not stripped by the wind. Strong solar radiation may have developed sun crusts on solar aspects up to about 2000 metres. The mid pack is reported to be well settled without any layers of concern. Depth hoar and facets are reported near the ground in areas with a thin snow pack.
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.