Avalanche Forecast

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Sunday NIght: Mostly cloudy, some clearing early morning. 0-2 cm of snow expected. Moderate south ridgetop winds, decreasing through the night. Freezing levels around 750 m. Alpine temperature around -3 °C.

Monday: Mostly cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected (possibly a bit more in the far south of the region). Moderate southeast ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 750 m. Alpine temperature around -3 °C.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. 0-5 cm of snow expected overnight, and 5-15 through the day. Expect the higher amounts to hold true around Kitimat and Terrace. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to around 1000 m.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light, variable winds. Freezing level rising to around 1200 m.

On Sunday, a professional operation northeast of Terrace reported several, small, natural windslab avalanches that occurred over the weekend. They were on steep, convex, lee features at treeline.

On Saturday, professional operations across the region reported several small, rider triggered windslab avalanches, failing on feathery surface hoar crystals, or on firm, wind effected surfaces. 

On Friday, a professional operation west of Terrace reported a couple of naturally triggered cornice avalanches up to size 2 on a southeast aspect in the alpine. 

Thursday to Saturday, many small, naturally triggered, loose dry avalanches in steep and/or sun exposed terrain were reported across the region.

Light to moderate flurries continue. In exposed terrain, moderate southeast through southwest ridgetop winds are continuing to build wind slabs on leeward features. These wind slabs overlie a variety of old, generally wind effected or faceted snow, and feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas.

The upper snowpack appears to be bonding to a rain crust buried in mid-February, but we are not ready to completely trust that bond until it has weathered some significant warming or precipitation. 

Depth of the rain crust is quite variable across the region, from 20-100 cm, and can even be found on the surface in very wind exposed terrain. This obvious, 10-30 cm thick crust effectively caps the underlying snowpack, making human triggering of avalanches on deeper weak layers unlikely.

• Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.