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

Feb 27th, 2018–Feb 28th, 2018

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

New snow and wind continue to overload the snowpack. Wednesday is expected to bring another bout of significant snowfall. Natural avalanches are likely.  Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation up to 5 m. Ridge wind strong, west. Temperature near -5. Freezing level 500 m.WEDNESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 10-20 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong southeast. Temperature near 0. Freezing level 700 m.THURSDAY & FRIDAY: mix of sun and cloud, light flurries. Accumulation about 5 cm on Thursday. Ridge wind moderate, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level 400 m lowering to valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Tuesday we received a report of a very large (size 4-4.5) natural avalanche on a south aspect west of Terrace near Snowbound Creek. Also evidence of a widespread natural cycle up to size 3 was reported from Sunday and Monday. And explosive control work on Monday produced numerous size 2.5 - 3 storm slabs on southeast through southwest aspects at all elevations.Skiers in the Shames area on Sunday reported reactive storm slabs up to size 2 on south and west aspects.  Read the MIN report here.In the north (colder & drier inland area) near Ningunsaw there was a remotely triggered size 2.5 avalanche on Sunday with a hard slab releasing near the ground in shallow snowpack area with a gentle start zone.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow accumulations of 40-80 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong winds from the south-west through north-west at alpine and treeline elevations. Recent storms are burying older hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.In the upper pack about 50-70 cm deep is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.