Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
Forecast new snow and wind on Tuesday night will add to an ongoing storm slab problem with increased reactivity expected in the alpine.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.
- The new snow may require several days to settle and stabilize.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, but that may speak more to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. Additional snow and wind Wednesday night will continue to create touchy storm slabs reactive to human triggers, especially in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
20 cm of new snow on Wednesday morning brings recent storm totals to 60-80cm. Moderate southerly winds continue to redistribute the new snow. Last weekend's strong to extreme southeasterly ridgetop winds likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.
50-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.
The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. I'd expect an improving bond at this interface; however, the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: 10-15cm of new snow / Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 1000m.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with flurries; 3-5cm / Moderate to strong southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level dropping to 500m.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with flurries; 3-5cm / Light southerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 500m.
SATURDAY: 5-10 cm of new snow / Light to moderate southerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 500m.
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New snow and wind Wednesday night continue to build storm slabs reactive to human triggers.