Northwest Coastal

Use extra caution on steep slopes at treeline.

Buried surface hoar has been reactive to skiers and even produced remotely triggered avalanches.

Over the past few days numerous human triggered avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported, these avalanches all failed on the surface hoar and facet layer described in the snowpack summary. Most of these avalanches were at treeline with a few being triggered in the alpine.

Remotely triggered avalanches have also been reported like the one in this MIN.

Up to 20 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed into wind slabs by variable winds, wind slab could exist on all aspects as a result. In sheltered terrain this snow overlies a layer of surface hoar and facets. A new crust may be found on steep south facing slopes.

Below this is a thick and hard melt-freeze crust extending up to approximately 1700 m. This crust is just buried by the 10 to 20 cm of new snow at lower elevations.

Tuesday Night

Clear skies with no new snow expected. 20 to 50 km/h outflow wind. Treeline temperature -3°C with a temperature inversion and colder temperatures below treeline.

Wednesday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. 30 to 50 km/h outflow wind. Treeline temperature -5°C.

Thursday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. 40 to 70 km/h outflow wind. Treeline temperature -5°C.

Friday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. 40 to 70 km/h outflow wind. Treeline temperature -5°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.