Northwest Inland

New snow, strong winds and rising freezing levels will create dangerous avalanche conditions.

Avoid avalanche terrain.

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.
• Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

A natural avalanche cycle is expected to occur throughout the duration of this storm.

Large avalanches have been reported running from the alpine into below treeline elevations in the Skeena River corridor. Details are limited at this time.

Up to 50 cm of new snow, significant precipitation in the coming days, and rising freezing levels will keep avalanche danger elevated.

30 to 50 cm of snow has fallen over the past 2 days, accompanied by strong southwest winds. This new snow has fallen on faceted snow from the recent cold weather. The new snow is not expected to bond well to the previous faceted surface.

Last week, more than 100 cm of heavy snow fell, strengthening the snowpack and reducing the likelihood of triggering older layers from early December (which include buried surface hoar and crusts).

Snowpack depth is up to 350 cm at treeline.

Sunday Night
Cloudy. 10 to 30 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Monday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Tuesday
Cloudy. 10 to 40 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.