Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.
Gradual snowfall has begun to stack up in coastal areas.
Watch for fresh and reactive wind slabs and step back into conservative terrain choices if you see signs of instability like cracking or recent avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday operators reported loose dry sluffing within the new snow from rider traffic. And some loose wet avalanche activity at low elevations where temperatures remained mild.
Several rider triggered slabs were reported on Tuesday, to size 1 primarily in wind loaded features. With new snowfall slabs triggered now are expected to be larger in coastal areas.
On the weekend a rider triggered a size 2 slab on weak crystals above the crust from the end of March, resulting in a full burial. The person involved was extricated with no injuries. This layer has shown reactivity in isolated features where the snowpack thins and weak layers are shallower.
Snowpack Summary
Snowfall totals may reach 30 cm in immediate coastal areas, and closer to 15 cm elsewhere. This continues to be redistributed by southerly winds into wind slabs on north facing slopes. This sits over wind affected surfaces or a crust on south facing slopes that extends into the alpine, or weak facetted crystals.
A weak layer buried at the end of March sits 20-40 cm deep. It includes facets and surface hoar in shaded areas, and a melt freeze crust elsewhere.
The mid and lower snowpack are considered generally strong and well-bonded. In far northern reaches of the region, basal facets may exist which are currently considered inactive. This layer may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow expected in cm in most areas, with up to 20 cm possible on the immediate coast/Kitimat area. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow. Moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Snow intensifies with 10-20 cm likely. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with strong to extreme southerly winds. Moderate to heavy snowfall. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh and reactive wind slabs are expected to continue to build at higher elevations.
A buried crust from the end of March has produced recent avalanche activity - small wind slabs may trigger a deeper avalanche on this layer.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2