Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Apr 13 – 14, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Be aware of changing conditions with elevation. Variable winds may have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects below ridgetops.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    New snow may bond poorly to an underlying crust. Watch for fresh wind slabs in leeward areas near ridge crests and convex features.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    When the sun comes out it will quickly weaken the new snow and cause loose wet avalanching on steep solar slopes.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries. Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level around 1000 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeasterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature 1. Freezing level rising to around 1200 m.MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Light northeasterly ridgetop winds. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level around 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday. On Wednesday, a size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche was remotely triggered by a group of skiers on a ridgetop from 10 m away. The avalanche failed on surface hoar about 70 cm deep on a north aspect at 1800 m. A size 2 wet slab was triggered by day-time warming in the same area near Bear Pass.

Snowpack Summary

5-15 cm of recent storm snow and strong variable winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.In the south of the region, two layers of surface hoar are buried approximately 70-100 cm deep. The layers are most prominent on north to east aspects and were buried early-March and mid-March. In the north of the region, these layers are around 40 cm deep.Bellow these March layers the mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. However, shallower parts of the region, such as the far north, have weak sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack.

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