Weather Forecast
Sunday: Expect unsettled conditions, with occasional flurries, gusty northerly winds and temperatures reaching -5. Monday & Tuesday: Predominantly dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Winds turn from northerly to southerly with temps should reach -8 each afternoon.
Avalanche Summary
Many avalanches up to size 2.0 occurred in the last 24hrs, predominantly in wind loaded features. These include both natural and human triggering, with some events going remotely or sympathetic to other releases. Wind slabs continue to build on Northerly aspects. With continued snow and wind I expect wind slabs to grow and storm snow instabilities to linger.A Special Avalanche Warning has been issued for the South Coast Inland, NW and Interior regions. Keep yourself informed by reading the daily updated Avalanche Bulletins, the Special Warnings, and knowing the conditions in your "local" mountains.
Snowpack Summary
35cm of new snow fell in the last 24hrs, bringing the total storm accumulations to around 60cm. This storm was accompanied by moderate to locally strong southerly winds, yielding intense slab production on North through East facing terrain at treeline and in the alpine. This new snow overlies a variety of wind modified surfaces, crusts at lower elevations and small islands of surface hoar in sheltered areas. Easy shears are present in the new storm snow (graupel down 30cm) and at the old interface (facets down 60). Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is well bonded and strong.
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.