Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 4 – 5, 2015Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche danger is rising with incoming snow and wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Incoming snow and wind are likely to build slabs which could be triggered naturally, or by the weight of a person. These may include stiff wind slabs lee to the SW, and storm slabs on other aspects.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Rainfall below treeline may weaken the snowpack enough to cause loose wet avalanches to fail naturally in steep terrain.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose moist avalanches were observed on steep solar aspects over the last couple of days. Several small wind slabs were observed on Monday. A size 3 avalanche was observed from a steep un-skiable solar aspect over the weekend. Storm slabs and wind slabs are likely to form over the next couple of days.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

By Thursday morning, anywhere from 10-25 cm snow is expected (highest amounts near the coast). This is followed by cloudy skies with possible flurries on Friday and Saturday. Strong to gale SW winds persist over the next three days, perhaps easing to moderate for a time on Friday. The freezing level is near 1000 m.

Snowpack Summary

Incoming snow and strong SW winds are likely to build wind slabs on lee features, and storm slabs in more sheltered spots. Previous outflow winds created isolated stiff thin wind slabs, which may now be buried under new snow. A variety of other interfaces may be found under the new snow, including a sun crust, an old rain crust, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Keep an eye out for cornices that could fail.

Regions covered