Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.
New storm slabs will be reactive to ridder triggering.
Use cautious route-finding and evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday. there have been reports of widespread wet loose avalanches throughout our region on all aspects below 1500 m. Even with cooling temperatures, this may continue into Friday.
Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Around 35 of recent snow now sits on a variety of surfaces. It will have been redistributed at higher elevations by southwest winds.
A melt-freeze crust formed in mid-January is now buried 50 to 70 cm deep. At the moment this layer is gaining strength. The snow below this layer is consolidating nicely. Buried up to 120 cm is another layer of concern, a crust, formed near the end of December.
Snowpack depths are below seasonal averages. Total amounts range from 150 to 200 cm at treeline, but decrease significantly below 1500 m.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Increasing clouds, up to 15 cm accumulation, winds south southwest 40 to 50, treeline temperatures 0 C and cooling.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods, up to 10 cm accumulation, winds southwest 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperatures -5 C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds west southwest 25 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 C.
Sunday
Cloudy with possible sunny periods late in the day, 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Snow that arrived Friday night and will continue into Friday will add to snow already accumulated earlier this week. Temperature and winds will aid in the formation of reactive storm slabs.
Southerly winds have and will continue to redistribute snow creating reactive wind slab.
Although temperatures are cooling, new snow may cover wet and moist snow, locking in heat. This could cause conditions that would result in wet loose avalanches. Be cautious around steep terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2