Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2015 9:09AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Winds have created a variable snowpack. Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Generally light precipitation is expected on Wednesday Â and Thursday, with the freezing level around 1200 m and winds moderate to strong from the S to SE. On Friday, a more organised system brings 5-15 mm precipitation with the freezing level near 1400 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, several loose avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on solar aspects. A skier triggered a size 1 wind slab in the alpine. Explosives control on Sunday triggered several very large avalanches near Stewart, failing at ground or on a deeply buried crust.

Snowpack Summary

Around 1 m of recent storm snow was redistributed by strong and variable winds, creating widespread wind slabs. Operators now report reasonable settlement and bonding within the storm snow. Older buried surfaces include wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. The mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found, particularly on shallow alpine slopes in the north of the region. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Below treeline, the snow appears to be in a spring melt-freeze cycle.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have formed on many slopes following shifting winds. Cornices may be fragile and could break off further back from the edge than expected.

Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2015 2:00PM