Isolated wind slabs at higher elevations are the main concern right now. Remain vigilant around cornices, and minimize overhead exposure.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
We're looking at small amounts of new snow and slightly warmer than normal temperatures throughout the forecast period. Scattered convective activity on Thursday and Friday could result in locally higher snowfall totals.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with wet flurries in the afternoon (5 cm, with 10 cm possible in the Monashees). Light to moderate south west winds. Freezing level falling to 1700 metres late in the day, with alpine high temperatures of +2.THURSDAY: Scattered flurries (2-5cm possible). Light northerly winds. Freezing level around 1700 metres with alpine high temperatures around 0 degrees.FRIDAY: Scattered flurries (2-5cm possible). Light north / east winds. Freezing level 1700 metres with alpine high temperatures of 0 degrees.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3 was reported over the past four days. These were primarily wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects; however, on Saturday some did step down to the mid-February layer (with 50-70 cm crowns) on southerly aspects. Large cornice falls were also reported on the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
The main story over the past several days has been the sun's effect on south and west facing slopes. Daytime heating has resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects, freezing to form a crust overnight. On north and east facing slopes, cold dry snow can still be found and it sits on a well-settled snowpack. Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.
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.