Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 10 – 11, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New snow and high winds have created new windslabs in exposed terrain. Windslabs may be particularly reactive in areas where they overlie a weak layer of buried surface hoar.

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud / Moderate west winds / Freezing level at 600mTuesday: Increased cloud with moderate snowfall developing late in the day-continuing overnight / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 600mWednesday: Light snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 400m

Avalanche Summary

There were a few glide crack releases to size 2.5 below treeline in the north of the region. I would expect a round of wind slab activity in response to new snow and wind on Saturday night.

Snowpack Summary

Light to locally moderate amounts of new snow now overlie a variety of old surfaces which include: a crust at lower elevations and on solar aspects; old wind slabs in exposed areas, and fairly widespread large surface hoar. Moderate to locally extreme west/southwest winds will have, no doubt, shifted the new snow into soft and hard wind slabs in exposed terrain. I would expect the new snow to be quite reactive, especially where it overlies the surface hoar which was buried on March 9th. This interface is likely to be one to watch as the overlying slab develops.The mid snowpack layers are generally well settled and strong. Facets at the base of the snowpack may resurface as a concern now that spring warming is on the doorstep and full-depth releases are becoming more likely (primarily in the northern part of the region).

Regions covered