Regions
South Coast Inland.
The region is split, with fresh storm slab and loose wet avalanche problems in the south of the region and a well-consolidated snowpack in the north. Saturday's danger ratings are biased to the south of the region.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Wet flurries in the south of the region. Moderate southwest winds. Freezing level to 1800 metres with alpine temperatures around 0 in the south of the region, 1500 metres and -3 in the north.Sunday: 15-20 mm of rain. Strong southwest winds. Freezing level ranging from 2000 to 2200 metres with alpine temperatures from +1 to +4.Monday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level to 1300 metres with alpine temperatures around -4.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, however new storm slabs developed at upper elevations in the south of the region over the course of Thursday's continued stormy weather. Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network. (MIN)
Snowpack Summary
A shift from rain to snow on Thursday saw new snow accumulating above about 1300 metres in the south of the region. The depth of this new snow is heavily elevation dependant, with up to 30 cm accumulated at the highest elevations in the south of the region. The north of the region saw only a trace of new snow accumulate on the surface after the rain subsided. Below the new snow, recent heavy rain eroded snowpack depths significantly, leaving behind a rain-soaked and relatively uniform 90 cm at treeline elevations throughout the region.
Problems
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.