Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Wind slabs are likely to be encountered at upper elevations and may be reactive to human triggering.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT - Clear with cloudy periods / northeast winds 10-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -5FRIDAY - Cloudy sunny periods / northwest winds 10-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -5SATURDAY - Mainly sunny / northeast winds 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -15SUNDAY - Sunny / east winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -10
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, there were several human triggered avalanches size 1-2 near Terrace. A few of these were triggered remotely (from a distance). These were on north and west aspects around 1400 m.On Tuesday, a group of people triggered a size 1.5 avalanche in steep terrain on a west aspect below treeline. Loose avalanches were reported on solar aspects on Tuesday afternoon.On Monday, a group of people remotely triggered a size 2.5 wind slab avalanche from 300 m away. The avalanche failed on a west aspect around 1600 m and was 50 cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
The region has seen recent strong winds from the northeast and the southeast. This will mean that wind slabs are likely to be found on most aspects, especially in the alpine and at treeline. South facing slopes likely have a crust on the surface.In most areas, 20-50cm of wind affected snow sits on old wind slabs, and crust on south facing slopes. In sheltered areas, low density snow sits on facets (sugary snow) and/or surface hoar (feathery crystals).In the south of the region, the lower snowpack is considered generally strong. Around Bear Pass and further north, two weak layers of surface hoar may be found down about 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of facets in the northern parts of the region.
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.