Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday

Wednesday: Snow amounts up to 15cms. Ridgetop winds 80km/hr from the SW. Freezing levels near 700m. Thursday/Friday: A ridge will build over the coast bringing mainly dry conditions. Few flurries expected up to 5cms. Freezing levels will remain at valley bottom during the day then start to rise in the evening. Ridgetop winds 35-60km/hr from the NW.

No avalanche observations reported today.

10-20cms of new snow fell overnight adding to the previous 25-40cms that fell over the weekend. The new snow is setting up fresh storm slabs, and wind slabs on top of the previous cold, low density snow from the last week. A weak interface exists lower in the snowpack down 40-60cms. This interface consists of old decomposing snow crystals, preserved snow crystals (stellars), and facets (sugary crystals). Tests done on this interface are showing moderate to hard results, but sudden planar characteristics. This may be a layer to watch with more snow and wind forecast. The rain crust itself lies buried around 40-60cm below the surface at 1900m and below. The bond at this crust is reported to be quite good. On steep slopes, this interface, or the one above it, definitely has the potential to act as a good sliding surface. Weak layers lower in the snowpack have generally ceased to be of concern, except perhaps in very isolated, thin rocky areas.