Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 7th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
wlewis,
Avalanche Canada
Watch for changing conditions as you travel through different aspects and elevations.
Snowfall continues to accumulate, especially in coastal areas. Expect reactivity in wind loaded features & keep an eye on snow surface conditions at low elevation.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday operators reported loose wet activity at low elevations where temperatures remained warm. Natural and rider triggered avalanche activity was reported within the recent storm snow, mostly to size 1, with larger results produced by explosive control methods in heavy snowfall areas.
On the weekend a rider triggered a size 2 slab on weak crystals above the crust from the end of March, resulting in a full burial. The person involved was extricated with no injuries. This layer has shown reactivity in isolated features where the snowpack thins and weak layers are shallower.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snowfall totals may reach 40 or 50 cm in coastal areas, and taper as you move inland where about 15-20 cm of snow has fallen. This continues to be redistributed by southerly winds into wind slabs on north-facing slopes. This sits over wind-affected surfaces or a crust on south-facing slopes that extends into the alpine, or weak facetted crystals.
A weak layer buried at the end of March sits 20-40 cm deep. It includes facets and surface hoar in shaded areas, and a melt-freeze crust elsewhere. This layer has shown limited reactivity within the past week.
The mid and lower snowpack are considered generally strong and well-bonded. In far northern reaches of the region, basal facets may exist which are currently considered inactive. This layer may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with 5-15 cm of snow. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels around 800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Snow intensifies with 15-40 cm possible. Highest amounts favour typical coastal terrain. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Another 15-30 cm of snow possible. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Monday
Cloudy, light snowfall with strong southerly winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh and reactive wind slabs are expected to build at higher elevations as new snowfall continues to stack up.
Coastal areas have seen much heavier snowfall. Expect greater reactivity and size of possible avalanches here. If you are heading to areas east of Terrace, avoid any large open slopes capable of producing large avalanches and stick to low-angle terrain.
A buried crust from the end of March has produced some recent avalanche activity - small wind slabs may trigger a deeper avalanche on this layer in isolated features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Loose wet activity is most likely in coastal areas, where larger amounts of rain or wet snow are expected overnight Thursday.
Avoid slopes that have moist or wet surface snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 8th, 2023 4:00PM
