Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 6 – 7, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

With a stable weather pattern conditions are mostly stable. Watch for pockets of windslab and keep an eye on slopes getting hit by strong sun.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5
    Strong shifting wind has left slabs on all aspects. These slabs could be more reactive on north and west aspects where they sit above weak faceted snow.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday in the northern part of the region there was a single report of a size 1.5 windslab releasing on facets.One small slab avalanche (size 1) was triggered remotely by a group of skiers on Sunday. It was 40 cm thick and occurred on an east aspect at 1400 m.

Weather Forecast

Little change is on the horizon.WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear, dry, cold, and light north or northeast windsTHURSDAY: Sunny, dry, light northwest wind, alpine high temperatures near -7 C.FRIDAY: Sunny, dry, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures near -5 C.SATURDAY:  Mostly sunny, dry, light west wind, alpine temperatures near -5 C.

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Snowpack Summary

Many days of outflow winds have scoured the surface in exposed terrain and formed hard wind slabs on all aspects. South facing slopes likely have crusts on the surface.Roughly 30-50 cm of snow sits above a layer of cold, soft faceted snow and surface hoar. This layer has been reactive in some snowpack tests and could enhance the propagation of wind slabs if triggered.The lower snowpack is generally considered strong.

Regions covered