Confidence
Good - Timing of incoming weather is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Freezing Level: 500m in the morning increasing to near 1000m in the afternoon. Wind: Light NE, No significant precip.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 250m increasing to 800 in the afternoon. Wind: Light SW. No significant precip.Thursday: Freezing Level: 500m increasing slightly during the day. Wind initially light SW increasing to strong SW in the afternoon. 10 - 15 cm of snow expected during the day.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity on Sunday was limited to fast moving sluffs.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snowfall in the Duffey Lakes area and up on the Coquihala has been redistributed into wind slabs at higher elevations. On shaded slopes the recent snow may overlie surface hoar which was buried on February 12th. On solar aspects and at lower elevations a melt freeze crust is likely to exist.Below this there are a few buried interfaces which include crusts, facets and surface hoar. These interfaces are gaining strength but it's worth digging down and testing these layers before committing to a steep line.The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.
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.