Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Wind slabs exist in terrain depressions at higher elevations. You may want to plan your day around the next storm, which should arrive midday Thursday and will likely elevate the hazard.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -6 C.THURSDAY: Cloudy with afternoon snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -6 C.FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 to 30 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C.SATURDAY: Early-morning snowfall and clearing over the day, accumulation 5 cm, light east wind, alpine temperature -9 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, cross-loaded and lee terrain features were triggered by skiers, producing small avalanches around 20 to 60 cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
The next storm on Thursday and Friday will add to the recent 15 cm of snow. Upwards of 30 cm of snow is possible with the storm, and it will fall with strong southwest wind. All of this snow overlies a heavily wind affected layer in exposed terrain and pockets of feathery surface hoar crystals and faceted snow in sheltered terrain.In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two weak layers of surface hoar buried between 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.
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.