Northwest Coastal

Heavy, wet snow is prone to loose wet slides in steep terrain. If you get high enough to find dry snow, watch for storm slabs to be especially reactive in wind-loaded terrain features.

Preliminary reports from the storm include widespread natural loose wet activity averaging size 1 around Shames. Further north, industrial operators have reported storm slabs running naturally size 1-1.5 and explosive triggered size 2.

Thursday night: Snowfall 5-15 cm, strong west wind, high of +2, freezing level 1100 m.

Friday: Snowfall 5-15 cm, strong, southwest wind, high of +2, freezing level 1200 m.

Saturday: 10-15 cm overnight then flurries, moderate west wind, high of -1, freezing level 800 m.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud, light, northwest wind, high of -2, freezing level 600 m.

Ongoing snowfall amid strong wind has accumulated 20-40 cm of heavy, moist new and recent snow over a thick rain crust at all elevations. The 10-30 cm thick rain crust makes human triggering of avalanches on weak layers deeper in the snowpack very unlikely.

However, cornices overhead are a primary concern during sunny, warm, or windy conditions. Cornice failures can trigger very large persistent slab avalanches that would otherwise be difficult to human trigger.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
• Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
• Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.