Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2015 7:12AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Avalanche danger is rising with incoming snow and wind.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

By Thursday morning, anywhere from 10-25 cm snow is expected (highest amounts near the coast). This is followed by cloudy skies with possible flurries on Friday and Saturday. Strong to gale SW winds persist over the next three days, perhaps easing to moderate for a time on Friday. The freezing level is near 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose moist avalanches were observed on steep solar aspects over the last couple of days. Several small wind slabs were observed on Monday. A size 3 avalanche was observed from a steep un-skiable solar aspect over the weekend. Storm slabs and wind slabs are likely to form over the next couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Incoming snow and strong SW winds are likely to build wind slabs on lee features, and storm slabs in more sheltered spots. Previous outflow winds created isolated stiff thin wind slabs, which may now be buried under new snow. A variety of other interfaces may be found under the new snow, including a sun crust, an old rain crust, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Keep an eye out for cornices that could fail.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Incoming snow and wind are likely to build slabs which could be triggered naturally, or by the weight of a person. These may include stiff wind slabs lee to the SW, and storm slabs on other aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Rainfall below treeline may weaken the snowpack enough to cause loose wet avalanches to fail naturally in steep terrain.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2015 2:00PM