Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 22 – 23, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The most significant warming looks like it will occur on Saturday and could result in an increase in avalanche activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New wind slabs may be triggered in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–6
    Cornices are reported to be very large and potentially unstable at this time. A cornice fall could be destructive by itself, and may also act as a trigger on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose wet avalanches are likely on steep sun exposed slopes if the sun is shining.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure should maintain mostly sunny and dry conditions for the next several days. The freezing level will drop to valley bottom overnight and rise to 800-1000m during the day. Ridge top winds should be generally light from the south.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Tuesday and Wednesday include several skier controlled slab avalanches up to Size 1.5 (15-30cm deep), primarily from wind loaded terrain features. There were no reports of recent natural avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate SE winds have created thin wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain. 20-40cm of new snow sits on the previous snow surface which included a sun crust on southerly aspects, surface facets or surface hoar in cool shady areas, and pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain. A variety of potential weak layers exist between 60 and 120cm deep. These include surface hoar or facets. There has been no recent activity on these layers but they could wake up with heavy triggers like a large cornice chunk or a snowmobile digging its track in. Cornices in the region are reported to be very large and potentially unstable.

Regions covered