Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Apr 1 – 2, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow and wind are expected to develop new wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline on Sunday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Expect new wind slabs to develop due to the forecast new snow and wind. Cornices are also expected to develop new growth, that may be weak and fall off naturally.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3
    A weak layer of facets and/or a crust that developed early in the winter lies near the bottom of the snowpack. Any change in the weather may affect the likelihood of triggering this deep weak layer.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Overnight: 3-5 cm of new snow with moderate northwest winds and freezing down to valley bottoms. Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with moderate northwest winds and daytime freezing level up to 800 metres. Monday: Overnight re-freeze down to valley bottoms followed by mostly sunny skies and light winds. Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with increasing southerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

A natural cornice fall released a wind slab or perhaps a persistent slab on a northeast aspect that was size 2.5; this was reported from the Microwave on Thursday but may have occurred on Wednesday. You can see the full MIN report here. Storm slabs up to size 2.5 were reported from the western extent of the region in the Howson's, where the snowpack is more like the Northwest Coastal region. No new avalanches reported from the rest of the region.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow combined with moderate southwest winds has developed wind slabs in the alpine and in some exposed treeline locations. Periods of sun and high daytime freezing levels have developed crusts below treeline and on sun exposed terrain at all elevations. The snow may be moist or wet below treeline during the warmest part of the day. The Mid-February crust and facet layer was reported to be down 75-90 cm in the Houston Telkwas sled area on Wednesday. The deep persistent weak layer of facets and/or a crust that were buried early in the winter are still lingering near the bottom of the snowpack. This MIN report found the deep weak layer strengthening in the Telkwas.

Regions covered