Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, Howson, Kitimat, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart.
Start on small features and carefully assess the snowpack before entering committing terrain.
Retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, several loose wet and storm slab avalanches were naturally and skier-triggered across the region. They ranged from small size 1's to a very large size 3, and occurred on a variety of aspects and elevation bands.
On Monday, west of Terrace, numerous large (up to size 2.5) natural avalanches were reported.
On Sunday, several large (size 2-3) natural avalanches were reported.
It may take a few more days for the recent storm snow to bond to underlying layers.
Snowpack Summary
30-75 cm of settling snow sits on a widespread crust, except on north-facing upper-elevation slopes where isolated pockets of small surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) and/or faceted snow may be buried. The widespread crust was formed in early April and the recent snow may still be poorly bonded to it in some areas.
Recent southerly winds have likely formed deeper, more reactive deposits of snow in leeward terrain.
Previously problematic layers deeper in the snowpack appear to have bonded and strengthened, however, there is a small chance that they could remain a risk in steep, north-facing, high alpine terrain.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow possible. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -2 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. Trace amounts of snow possible. 10 to 25 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy. Trace amounts of snow possible. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of new snow possible. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Start on smaller terrain features and gather information before committing to bigger terrain.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs will be most likely to trigger where recent strong south winds have formed deeper deposits below ridgecrests and in cross-loaded features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches are likely to occur during periods of strong sun and warming.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2