Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind strong, east. Temperature near -6. Freezing level 500 m.THURSDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level 300 m.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind moderate, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level valley bottom.SATURDAY: Sunny. Ridge wind light, east. Temperature near -10. Freezing level valley bottom.

On Wednesday and Tuesday we received a reports of two very large (size 4 and 4.5) natural avalanches that are suspected to have failed on a deep weak layer near the base of the snowpack. The larger of these occurred near Snowbound Creek west of Terrace on a south aspect at 1400 m and ran full path from ridge top to valley bottom, destroying a significant amount of mature forest beyond it's historical trimlines. Skier controlled and natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were also reported on Tuesday on north to east aspects between 1200-1400 m.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.

Recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong westerly winds 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 100-150 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 from January 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.