Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations
Weather Forecast
Light to moderate precipitation, with some breaks, is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, Expect 5-15cm each day Thursday and Friday and slightly less on Saturday all in a moderate to strong southwest flow. Freezing levels could reach as high as 1400m on Thursday but are expected to drop throughout the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports include isolated storm slab avalanches up to size 1.5 and loose snow sluffs below treeline.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures are promoting storm snow settlement and weak storm slab development at lower elevations. This recent storm snow is bonding poorly to faceted snow buried on January 20th, which is now down 45-80cm and producing hard, but sudden compression test results. Exposed alpine and treeline areas are wind-affected with big cornices and wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded slopes.
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.