Northwest Coastal

Recent heavy precipitation, wind and continued warm temperatures have destabilized the snowpack. Very large avalanches have been observed in the region recently.

Saturday: Numerous large and very large (up to size 4) naturally-triggered avalanches were observed in the Bear Pass area.

Thursday: Two small natural and rider-triggered wet slabs were observed.

Wednesday: Several naturally-triggered large (size 2) avalanches were observed in the Bear Pass area.

Up to 60 cm of snow has fallen in parts of the region over the last week. This snow is likely very dense, settling rapidly, and moist or wet at treeline elevations and below, where some of this snow fell as rain. In some areas this snow overlies a weak layer of surface hoar and facets that formed earlier in the month. A thick crust from January 1st exists up to around 1600 m. There is potential for the warm temperatures and new precipitation to overload these layers triggering very large avalanches.

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 2-8 cm of new snow / light to moderate rain, southwest alpine wind 50-60 km/h, treeline temperature 1°C, freezing level 1500 m

Sunday

Cloudy with 1-3 cm of snow / light rain, southerly alpine wind 75-80 km/h, treeline high of 2 °C, freezing level 1500-1600 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 15-30 cm of new snow / moderate to heavy rain, southerly alpine wind 70-80 km/h, treeline high of 3 °C, freezing level between 1500-1800 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 7-15 cm of snow in the alpine / moderate to heavy rain below, southwest alpine wind 55-75 km/h, treeline high of 1 °C, freezing level 1500m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.