Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Nov 19 – 20, 2011Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

This bulletin is based on limited data. Local variation in conditions and danger levels are likely to exist. To produce more accurate forecasts, we need information. Please send an email to [email protected]

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Near ridge crests and terrain breaks, and in cross-loaded gullies. The wind has changed direction several times in the last few days creating wind-slabs on several different aspects.

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunday should continue to be cooler and drier in the morning. The next wave of precipitation should move on to the coast around mid-day Sunday and begin to affect the interior ranges Sunday night and into Monday. Heavy precipitation combined with strong southwest winds should dominate Tuesday. Freezing levels may rise to 1500 metres on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

We have a few reports of glide crack releases at lower elevations near Terrace, and a recent size 2.0 slab release near Shames in the backcountry. Wind slabs are expected to remain sensitive to human triggers throughout the forecast period.

Snowpack Summary

Total snowpack depth in most sheltered treeline areas is around 100cm to150cm. Extensive wind-transport has created highly variable snowpack depths in exposed areas at all elevations with weak wind slabs 50 to100cm thick. The mid and lower snowpack seems to be well settled and strong with an old rain crust near the ground.

Regions covered