Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 16th, 2019 3:53PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

mconlan, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Coastal.

Wind-affected snow is found almost everywhere in the region.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, moderate to strong northeast wind alpine temperature -14 C.SUNDAY: Clear skies, moderate to strong northeast wind, alpine temperature -10 C.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, moderate northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, moderate to strong west wind, alpine temperature -5 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed in the region on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface has been heavily wind affected. You will likely find a variety of hard slabs, wind-pressed snow, sastrugi, and melt-freeze crust where the wind has scoured down to it. In sheltered areas below treeline, you may find pockets of soft snow that overlies a thick melt-freeze crust. In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two or three weak layers of feathery surface hoar crystals buried between 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent strong winds may have created isolated small slabs in steep terrain features.

Look for patterns of wind loading as you transition into wind affected terrain.Be careful around wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 17th, 2019 2:00PM