Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Cloud increasing in the morning and light precipitation starting by evening. Light to moderate SW winds. Freezing level around 1300 m.Monday: Light to moderate convective precipitation. Moderate SW winds. Freezing level around 1200 m. Clearing in the evening.Tuesday: Sunshine in the morning, changing to cloud and light precipitation late in the day. Moderate S winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural glide avalanches were reported this week, in the size 2-3.5 range. Wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were also observed in response to warming from rainfall and sunshine.
Snowpack Summary
Glide cracks have opened up and pose the threat of large, full-depth releases, especially on steep rocky terrain features at low elevations. Recently, a lack of overnight freezing at low elevations has left the snowpack weak and isothermal. Once a good freeze occurs, stability should improve dramatically. Large cornices and ice cliffs pose a threat from above. At this time of year, snowpack stability tends to decrease during times of warming (e.g. on slopes receiving sunshine, during rainfall, in the afternoon and at low elevations). We have limited observations from alpine elevations, but it's always possible that storm slabs or wind slabs will develop as storms come and go.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 5
Wet Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 7
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 6