Regions
Northwest Inland.
Incoming snow and winds will drive avalanche danger up early in the week.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Light snow is expected to begin overnight Monday. On Tuesday, light snow (5-10 cm) is expected. On Wednesday, cloudy skies are expected during a brief lull in the storm. Ridgetop winds are forecast as strong south to south-westerly. The freezing level is expected to be near surface, rising towards 1000 m on Wednesday.For more details check out avalanche.ca/weather
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
So far, we only have limited information from the field. Initial reports suggest that there is little snow below treeline. Recent outflow winds have created variable wind slabs and crusts at higher elevations. Incoming snow may bond poorly to this concoction of surfaces. In some places, a crust, surface hoar or facets can be found in the upper snowpack. A persistent weak layer exists at the base of the snowpack in the north of the region, however I am not sure how widespread this is. Information is limited - share yours through the Mountain Information Network.
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.