Use caution in areas where wind slabs may exist !
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
The ridge of high pressure that has given us mild upper elevation conditions is forecast to move out of BC by early Sunday morning. Cooler air will move into the region bringing an end to the inversion and lowering temperatures in the alpine back to more normal below freezing values. The BC interior should remain dry until Tuesday next week.
Avalanche Summary
Reports of loose natural avalanches on steep south-facing slopes. Continued warming through the weekend may create a denser slab within the recent storm snow.
Snowpack Summary
The last few days of clear skies, solar radiation, and warm air trapped at higher elevations has settled the recent storm snow. Southerly aspects have seen enough sun and warmth to release loose moist or wet avalanches in steep terrain. Melt-freeze crusts may have formed overnight when the temperatures dropped below freezing. Some wind transported snow continues to form thin wind slabs on various aspects. Surface hoar has been reported forming in sheltered locations.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.