Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Apr 13 – 14, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Observations from the region have been very limited recently. If you are out in the mountains, please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network and help us improve the bulletin. Click here for more details.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Recent new snow and moderate to strong easterly winds have changed the loading pattern and may have create reactive slabs in unexpected places

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Large cornices may become weak with daytime warming and have the potential to trigger slabs on the slopes below.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light to moderate east wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1100mSATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1300mSUNDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1300m

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity in the south of the region. That being said there is little to no information being reported from the region recently. On Tuesday in the Ningunsaw area explosives controlled avalanches were reported to be running to size 2.5 below tree line and failing to ground at tree line. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of new snow has fallen at higher elevations earlier in the week and has now been redistributed by moderate to strong east and southeast winds. At upper elevations the new snow is likely sitting on a hard wind crust created by strong winds last week. At the tree line elevation, warming and re freezing earlier in the week has likely has created a melt freeze crust. Below tree line the surface snow is likely a mix crusts at the upper end of the elevation band to moist or wet snow throughout the entire thickness of the snowpack at the lower portions of the elevation band.

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