Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Poor - Due to limited field observations
Weather Forecast
Moderate precipitation overnight Friday is forecast to become heavy to very heavy precipitation on Saturday morning as the next system lands on the north coast. The system should bring very strong winds with gusts above 100 km/hr. Friday evening and during the day on Saturday. Another disturbance is forecast to follow on Sunday night bringing continued moderate precipitation combined with moderate westerly winds. Freezing levels in the coastal mountains are forecast to rise to 1200 metres on Saturday and then drop back to about 700 metres on Sunday. The inland areas near Smithers are forecast to get less wind and snow as the system is aligned to travel southward along the coastal mountains.
Avalanche Summary
Very little natural activity reported given the amount of snow that has fallen in the past few days. Most reports are of size 1-1.5 along the highway corridor from steep isolated terrain features.
Snowpack Summary
Most areas received over a metre of new snow since the weekend, and it's still snowing. Fluctuating freezing levels and varying precipitation intensity and wind throughout the recent storms has probably resulted in various weaknesses within upper snowpack. Widespread large surface hoar was also observed on the previous snow surface at all elevations. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong with an old rain crust near the ground.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.