Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
Saturday Evening: Freezing Level: 500m, 5 - 15cm expected overnight. Wind Mod W.Sunday: Freezing Level: 750m, Wind: Mod SW, Precip ending around 08:00.Monday: Freezing Level: 600m, Wind: Lht. SW, No significant precip.Tuesday: Freezing Level: 500m, Wind: Light N/NW, No significant precip.
Avalanche Summary
A few small loose avalanches and pinwheeling were reported Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Very light amounts of recent snowfall in the Duffey Lake area and over 20cm on the Coquihalla have been distributed into wind slabs at higher elevations. On shaded slopes the recent snow may overlie surface hoar which was buried on February 11th. On solar aspects and at lower elevations a melt freeze crust is likely to exist.Below this there are a few buried interfaces which include crusts, facets and surface hoar. My guess is that they are gaining considerable strength; however, it's worth digging down and testing these layers before committing to a steep line.The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.
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.