Northwest Inland

Fair - Due to limited field observations

Synopsis: A strong frontal system will hit the North Coast on Tuesday morning bringing moderate to heavy snowfall through Wednesday morning. A drying trend is expected on Wednesday and Thursday as a ridge of high pressure redevelops. Tuesday: Moderate to locally heavy snowfall – 15-20 cm. Winds are strong to extreme from the south-southwest. The freezing level is near 1200 m. Wednesday: Precipitation eases off in the morning. Expect gradual clearing through the day. Winds ease to light from the west-southwest and the freezing level drops to 800-1000 m. Thursday: Sun and cloud in the morning with increasing cloud and chance of flurries in the afternoon. The freezing level is around 600-800 m.

Natural and skier triggered loose wet sluffs were reported in steep sun-exposed terrain on Sunday. On Saturday, widespread loose dry sluffing was reported in steep terrain running on a recently buried crust.

15-25 cm of new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust at most elevations. Warm temperature and solar radiation resulted in moist snow on solar aspects and lower elevations. A new surface crust may form Monday night before the next system arrives on Tuesday. Pockets of wind slab have developed in exposed lee terrain and cross-loaded gullies. 30 - 60 cm of snow overlies a crust, old wind slabs or surface hoar layer buried on March 9th. The distribution of the surface hoar is also highly variable and it does not exist in every drainage. I would still remain cautious and continue to dig and test before diving into my line. Deeper in the snowpack, basal facets may resurface as a concern with continued mild temperatures.Cornices have become well-developed and could easily become unstable during periods of warm weather or direct solar radiation.