Regions
Northwest Inland.
Watch for wind slabs in lee features at higher elevations. Use caution if wet snow is found at low elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Not much change in the weather pattern: A mix of sun and cloud and little if any precipitation.SATURDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / Light easterly winds / Alpine temperature +2 C / Freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Partly cloudy / Light north westerly winds / Alpine temperature +2 C / Freezing level 1500 m.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate westerly winds / Alpine temperature near 0 degrees C / Freezing level 1200 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, wet loose avalanches were observed at tree line and below. Some of these stepped down to basal facets in northern parts of the region.
Snowpack Summary
Variable snow surfaces are found in the region. In the east of the region, 5 to 10 cm of snow fell onto a melt-freeze crust from recent warm temperatures and rain. In the west of the region, the melt-freeze crust is on the surface. Wet snow may still exist at low elevations on all aspects. High elevation north aspects may have lingering wind slabs in immediate lee features. This overlies a surface hoar and sugary facet layer in sheltered locations.A surface hoar and crust layer from January is buried around 80 to 140 cm in the southwest of the region. This layer still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.Sugary facets exist at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas.
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.