Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with isolated flurries and moderate southwesterly winds. Freezing levels around 1300m. Saturday and Sunday: A ridge of high pressure is expected to keep the region dry with daytime freezing levels around 800-1000m.
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports include one cornice failure, but it didn't trigger a slab on the slope below.
Snowpack Summary
Generally over 4 m at treeline, total snowpack depths are at new record levels for this time of year. Warm temperatures are promoting storm snow settlement and weak storm slab development at lower elevations. Light amounts of new snow and moderate southerly winds are keeping wind slabs fresh in alpine and exposed treeline areas. Recent compression tests on a northeast aspect at 1180m produced moderate sudden results on the January 20th facets where they were found down 40cm.
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.
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.