Northwest Coastal

Storm slabs overlie a couple weak layers, which have produced large and destructive avalanches. Observe for signs of instability within the snow before committing yourself into avalanche terrain, such as cracking, whumpfing, and avalanche activity.

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with afternoon snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 500 m.TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 15 cm, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 500 m.WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light southerly winds, alpine temperature -9 C, freezing level 600 m.

On Saturday, a large persistent slab avalanche was reported in the north of the region, failing on the early-March weak layer described in the Snowpack Discussion.  It failed on an easterly aspect around treeline.  Otherwise, there was further evidence of the natural cycle that occurred on Friday within the recent storm snow, with storm slab and loose dry avalanches.  They were small to large (size 1 to 2), on all aspects, and at all elevations.Last week, large persistent slab avalanches were reported at all elevation bands, on east to northeast aspects.  These were failing on the early- and mid-March layers described in the Snowpack Discussion.

Expect to find a surface crust on southerly aspects from the weekend’s clear skies.In the south of the region, there is about 70 to 90 cm of storm snow from last week that overlies two layers of surface hoar, which are most prominent on north to easterly aspects and were buried early- and mid-March. In the north of the region, these layers are around 40 cm deep.  At low elevations, last week’s storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust.Near the bottom of the snowpack, weak and sugary facets exist in shallower parts of the region, such as the far north.