Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2022–Apr 1st, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Use extra caution at and above treeline where forecasted precipitation will likely fall as snow and form new storm and wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected with light south winds. Freezing level falling to 700 m.

Friday: Stormy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow expected. Highest snowfall amounts in the south of the region. Moderate to strong southwest winds with freezing levels rising to 1000 m.

Saturday: Stormy with around 10 cm of new snow expected with strong south winds. Freezing level around 1100 m.

Sunday: cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow and light to moderate south winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

In the north of the region explosive control triggered storm slabs up to size two.

Earlier in the week natural cornice falls and wet loose avalanches were observed throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

New storm and wind slabs are expected to form throughout the day on Friday. A crust can be found on all aspects and elevations at or near the surface except high north terrain. In the north of the region, small surface hoar may be found above this crust. This crust will likely become moist at lower elevations as the freezing level rises.

A weak layer of surface hoar from mid-March buried 70-120 cm deep can still be found but is considered dormant in the Terrace area. In the far north of the region, it produced large avalanches as recently as Sunday.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.