Use caution in sheltered areas where buried surface hoar or crust layers may exist.Additionally, avalanches may be triggered near ridgetops where wind-affected snow accumulates.
Recent strong winds have come from a variety of directions, transporting snow and forming reactive slabs. Extra caution is recommended at and near ridgetops.
A mix of buried surface hoar, facets and/or crust can be found up to 50 cm deep and remains susceptible to human-triggering. This layer has been most problematic in sheltered terrain at treeline.
Several natural, rider and explosive-triggered avalanches occurred over the last week.Most were small (size 1-1.5) with a few larger ones up to size 2.5. They occurred at treeline or above and on a variety of aspects. All were either wind slabs or persistent slabs failing on the weak layers described in the snowpack summary.
While natural avalanche activity is expected to taper off, the chance of rider-triggered avalanches is expected to persist into the following week.
All exposed terrain at treeline and above is highly wind affected by recent strong winds from variable directions.
In sheltered terrain a new layer of surface hoar is forming on the surface and a new sun crust may be found on steep south and west-facing slopes.
A layer of surface hoar and/or facets may be found buried 20-30 cm in sheltered terrain.
A crust from late January can be found down 20-50 cm.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, no precipitation, 15-20 km/h southeast alpine wind, treeline temperature -5°C. Chance of above freezing layer between the Prince Rupert to Kitimat to Terrace areas.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace amounts of snow. 5-10 km/h westerly alpine wind, treeline temperature 1°C between Prince Rupert, Kitimat and Terrace areas where above freezing layer may exist. Freezing level 500m elsewhere in the region.
Monday
Cloudy north of the Nass Valley, mostly sunny to the south, trace amounts of snow, 10-25 km/h northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature 0°C in the south, -3°C to the north, freezing level 500-1000 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and clouds, no precipitation, 15-20 km/h northwesterly alpine wind, treeline temperature 1°C in the south, -5°C to the north. Freezing level 500-1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
