Avalanche Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow; 20-30 cm. / Extreme, south ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -3 / Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

MONDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm, with another 15-20 cm. overnight / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -3 / Freezing level 700 m.

TUESDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm. / Light, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -4 / Freezing level 600 m.

WEDNESDAY: Flurries; 3-5 cm. / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -5 / Freezing level 500 m.

A few naturally triggered wind slabs up to size 2.5 continue to be reported. Additionally, there have been numerous recent reports of "whumphing" (collapsing) on a weak layer of surface hoar down around 100 cm. See recent MIN reports HERE.

A natural avalanche cycle is expected to begin Sunday night and continue through Monday morning.

Intense wind and snow on Sunday night is expected to form widespread storm slabs reactive to human triggers at all elevations.

Aside from this new snow, the main concerns vary throughout the region. In the Shames area, a weak layer of surface hoar has been reported in sheltered areas down around 80-140 cm. This layer may become active as the new snow load overloads the weak layer.

 A bit further north in the Nass/Sterling/Beaupre areas there is potentially still concern about an older weak layer overlying a crust that is now roughly 160 cm deep. 

In the far north of the region there is concern about weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack.

Storms like the one arriving Sunday evening often awaken deeply buried dormant weak layers, resulting in very large natural avalanches.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a persistent slab.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.