Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Apr 15 – 16, 2017Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Expect the avalanche danger to increase as the sun comes out and the  temperature rises through the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The likelihood of cornices triggering increases with intense sunshine and/or during the warmest parts of the day.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The potential for prolonged periods of sunshine on Sunday will weaken surface snow especially on steep rocky solar aspects.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northeast wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1300mMONDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Moderate east wind / Alpine temperature 2 / Freezing level 1500mTUESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light east wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1300m

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity in the south of the region. That being said there is little to no information being passed on from the region recently. Exposure to large overhanging cornices remains a significant concern. As the sun comes out over the weekend expect to see cornices weaken and loose snow avalanches run from steep sun exposed slopes during the warmest parts of the day.

Snowpack Summary

New snow at upper elevations from last week has been redistributed by winds switching from southwest to east and back again. This may be sitting on a variety of old surfaces including hard wind crusts in exposed terrain and sun crusts on solar aspects. At the tree line elevation, warming and refreezing earlier in the week has created melt freeze crusts. Below tree line the surface snow is likely a mix of crusts at the upper end of the elevation band to moist or wet snow throughout the entire thickness of the snowpack at the lower portions of the elevation band.

Regions covered