Wind slabs may remain sensitive to human-triggering. Take a cautious approach and investigate the bond between the new snow and the old surface before committing to your line.
Keep in mind that if triggered, wind slabs may step down to the deep persistent slab problem resulting in large avalanches.
Last weekend's 15-30 cm of storm snow has been redistributed by southwest winds into wind slabs in lee areas. Wind slab reactivity may persist for longer than is typical due to the weak surface they are sitting on.
A layer of weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, unsupported, wind-loaded terrain in the northern part of the region around the Chilcotins, Birkenhead, and Hurley.
Last Thursday, two size 3 deep persistent slab avalanches were observed just north of the Hurley summit. One was on a north-facing alpine face and the other an exposed, east-facing open slope at treeline.
Last Friday, two large (size 3-4) natural deep persistent slabs were observed on south and southeast alpine faces in the Birkenhead. We suspect these slabs occurred as a result of wind-loaded from strong northwesterly winds.
On Sunday, a size 1.5 rider-triggered wind slab was reported on a convex roll at treeline in the Stein. This avalanche occured on a cross-loaded south facing slope.
For a deeper dive into last week's conditions leading up to last weekend's storm, check out this awesome South Coast Conditions Report posted by Zenith Guides.
An additional 5-10 cm will accumulate over last weekend's storm that brought 15-30 cm of new snow down to valley bottom. In some areas, this new snow has bonded poorly to the stiff wind slabs and near-surface faceting formed by recent wind and cold temperatures.
A melt-freeze crust from late January can be found down 60-80 cm. At the moment this layer appears to be gaining strength though in isolated areas small facets can still be found above the crust.
There is a widespread weak layer of large sugary facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity on this layer has been confined to northern parts of the region in the Chilcotins. Snowpack depths around treeline range between 150 to 250 cm.
Monday night
Clear periods with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -12 °C. Ridge wind light from the south. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Tuesday
Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -8 °C. Ridge wind light from the southeast. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -9 °C. Ridge wind increasing 20 to 60 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
Cloudy with flurries, 2-10 cm of accumulation. 30 to 60 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
