Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 13th, 2019 4:02PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Watch out for locally heavier snowfall amounts on Thursday.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Hudson Bay (1500m):TPres -4; Wind 6-11 West; Precip yesterday 2mmHungry Hill (820m):HN24 2mm/cm; TMin -12; TMax +4; TPres -10Telkwa (1660m):Tsai Ck (1370m):Approx 25mm during last storm that ended in the eve of Mar 11. TPres -8.Tr on Sandra's table, Sky BKN; Smithers Cam: sky looks CLR.

Avalanche Summary

Few observers in the field Monday but reports are consistent with a natural avalanche cycle of storm slabs and wind slab up to size 2.

Snowpack Summary

The region is expected to receive 10-15 Wednesday night through Thursday, which will add to the previous 15 to 30 cm of storm snow accumulations since Monday. This new snow rests on previously wind hammered snow, sun crusts (on solar aspects), and sugary facets. February's cold weather weakened the upper- and mid-snowpack. In some sheltered areas, 20-50 cm of the snowpack was faceting, or sits on facets (sugary snow),In the south of the region, the lower snowpack is generally strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch out for wind slabs on lee (downwind) features in exposed areas. These may be especially touchy, since they overly weak facetted snow.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Seek out sheltered areas where the snow is unaffected by wind.Avoid terrain traps where small avalanches can have increased consequences.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 14th, 2019 2:00PM