South Coast

Recently formed slabs could be triggered by riders. Use caution around cornices and on sun-exposed slopes with solar warming potential.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clearing, 10 to 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -7 C.

MONDAY: Mostly clear skies, 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -5 C, freezing level 800 m.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 900 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 0 C, freezing level 1500 m.

We haven't yet received word of avalanche activity from Sunday's storm, but it is likely that storm slabs and wind slabs were triggerable. Perhaps we will hear of observations once the skies clear on Monday. Looking forward, storm and wind slabs could still be triggered by riders on Monday. Sun-exposed slopes and cornices will also weaken during daytime warming.

Up to 20 cm of snow fell above 1200 m on Sunday, which likely formed storm slabs in sheltered terrain and wind slabs in leeward features in exposed terrain from strong south to east wind. The snow overlies moist snow or a melt-freeze crust in most areas except at high elevation northerly aspects where it sits on wind-affected dry snow. Below around 1200 m, the snow surface is wet or has frozen into a thick melt-freeze crust. Cornices have been reported as being massive and fragile on ridgelines.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
• Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.