Regions
Northwest Inland.
Winds continue to modify loose snow. Look for signs of instability as you gain elevation and transition into wind-affected terrain, the best riding will likely be found in sheltered areas with limited wind effect.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures near -9C. Ridgetop winds 20-35 km/h gusting to 50 km/h from the east.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -8C. Ridgetop winds 10-25 km/h from the east-southeast.FRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm. Alpine temperatures near -15C. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the southeast.SATURDAY: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -20C. Ridgetop winds 20-35 km/h from the east.
Avalanche Summary
There have been few snow and avalanche observations for this region recently.On Saturday, a small size 1 natural avalanche cycle was spotted in wind-pressed features and, on Sunday, small size 1 slabs were reactive to skier traffic. As well, loose dry snow was sloughing in steep terrain over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Variable winds have scoured ridges and developed wind slabs and a variety of wind-affected surfaces throughout the alpine and into treeline. Lower density snow can still be found in sheltered and lee terrain, and in most areas, the 20-50 cm snow collectively overlies hard, previously wind affected surfaces or crust on solar aspects. In selective sheltered areas, low density snow overlies facets and/or spotty surface hoar. A thin sun crust has formed on steep solar aspects.In the south of the region, the lower snowpack is well-settled. In the north of the region, around 50 cm of snow may overly a weak layer of surface hoar or faceted grains.
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.