Northwest Coastal

Watch for lingering wind slabs especially around ridge crests, convexities and in steep terrain. The sun at this time of year can pack a punch so avoid exposure to cornices and watch for signs of warming on steep south aspects when solar radiation is strong.

Recent avalanche activity has included skier and solar triggered loose dry to size 1 and wind slabs to size 1.5. Several solar triggered cornice and ice falls did not trigger avalanches on slopes below.

A larger wind slab avalanche was reported east of Kitimat on Wednesday. The natural size 2 propagated widely, 30-40 cm deep on a southwest aspect in the alpine.

Surface conditions are a mix of very wind affected snow in exposed terrain features, old wind slabs on lee aspects, sun crusts or moist snow on steep solar aspects, and preserved softer snow in sheltered areas.

A layer of small surface hoar or facets is now buried over 80 cm deep. A facet/crust layer formed in late January exists around 150 cm deep. Large avalanches were suspected to have run on this layer in mid February. Triggering these deeper layers may still be possible in places where the snowpack is shallow.

The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated but as you move further inland where the snowpack is thinner, basal instabilities linger.

Thursday night

Partly cloudy. Light easterly wind. Alpine low -10˚C.

Friday

Increasing cloud. Moderate easterly wind. Alpine high -6 ˚C.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and scattered flurries bringing a trace of snow. Moderate southeasterly wind. Alpine high -12 ˚C.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and scattered flurries bringing a trace of snow. Light to moderate southeasterly wind. Alpine high -10 ˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
• Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.