Regions
Northwest Coastal.
You may be powder-starved, but mother nature is calling the shots with touchy, high consequence conditions expected for the forecast period. Conservative terrain selection will become critical.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
The ridge of high pressure and the associated cold arctic air is on its way out giving way to a more zonal flow. A series of punchy systems will impact the Coast for the forecast period.Monday: Heavy snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at surfaceTuesday: Heavy snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at surfaceWednesday: Moderate snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 300m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported. I would expect touchy storm slab conditions with forecast weather over the next few days.
Snowpack Summary
A highly variable snow surface includes surface facets, patchy surface hoar, thin wind slabs, scoured crust, or any combination thereof. Once buried by the forecast storm snow, surface hoar or a thin layer of facets sitting on a hard surface will likely become a persistent weak layer.The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled. Basal facets and depth hoar are likely to exist in some areas, but triggering is only a concern in thin and variable snowpack areas with large triggers.
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.