Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday

Overnight: Some light precipitation expected to continue overnight, with light northwest winds and freezing down to 500 metres by morning. Thursday: A weak ridge of high pressure should bring broken skies or scattered cloud along with light northwest winds and daytime freezing up to 1100 metres. Friday: The next storm moves onto the north coast bringing 5-10 cm of new snow by morning and another 10-15 during the day combined with strong southwest winds and freezing levels up to 1300 metres. Saturday: Continued stormy weather with 15-20 cm of new snow and strong southwest winds.

Two natural persistent slab avalanches were reported northwest of Terrace on Tuesday that released down 100 cm and failed in shallow rocky areas adjacent o large slopes.. On Sunday, a machine-triggered Size 3 (with crown approximately 2m thick) was reported in the South Douglas area just north of Terrace on a northwest aspect near 1400m. The slab is suspected to have run on the late February interface and involves an incredible story of survival. Click here for details.

Storm slabs continue to develop in the alpine and at treeline. Warm daytime temperatures have created moist snow at treeline and wet snow below treeline. The February 21st persistent weak layer continues to be a concern for triggering large avalanches. This combination of crust and weak facets is now down 100-150 cm, and may be triggered by light additional loads in shallow weak spots adjacent to large terrain features. The snow below treeline may become weak and release as loose wet avlanches or wet slabs in steep unsupported terrain features. Spring conditions may change quickly, especially if the sun pops out during the day and warms the slab above the weak layer.