Avalanche Forecast

Reports on Tuesday and Wednesday reflect a natural avalanche cycle in the Coquihalla area Monday night and Tuesday. Avalanches were reported as size 2-3 wind slabs, storm slabs and persistent slabs on northwest, northeast and southeast aspects in the alpine and treeline elevation bands. The persistent slab avalanches were suspected to have run on the facet/crust layer buried in mid-January (outlined in the avalanche problem section).

Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

20-40 cm of new snow from the beginning of the week has been redistributed by primarily southwest winds switching to northerly.

A melt-freeze crust formed in mid-January is buried up to 90-140 cm deep. In some areas, small faceted crystals can be found above the crust. This layer appears to have been reactive during the storm Tuesday night and Wednesday this week. The snow below this layer is well consolidated.

Snowpack depths are just below seasonal averages. Total amounts range from 150 to 300 cm at treeline, but decreases significantly below 1500 m.

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with clear breaks. Light to moderate north east. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate north east wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks. Moderate southwest wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.