Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 25 – 26, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Recently developed wind slabs have gained considerable strength, but may be triggered in steep, isolated terrain.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–6
    Cornices are reported to be very large and potentially unstable at this time. A cornice fall could be destructive by itself, and may also act as a trigger on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose wet avalanches are likely on steep sun exposed slopes when the sun is shining.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Monday: a mix of sun and cloud - light southerly winds - freezing level at 1100m Tuesday: trace amounts of snowfall - moderate to strong southeast winds - freezing level at 1200m Wednesday: light snowfall - moderate to strong southeast winds - freezing level at 900m

Avalanche Summary

Recently formed windslabs to size 1.5 were ski cut in the North of the region. Natural ice fall triggered a slab 80 to 120cm deep on a northeast aspect at 1600m. I am unaware of the failing interface, but the slope was reportedly unsupported. There were also several large cornice failures in region. None the failures reported triggered avalanches on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong southeast winds have created wind slabs that have now gained considerable strength. Solar aspects are now moist under sunny skies during the day with a good crust recovery developing at night. Surface hoar or facets may exist in some parts of the region of the region between 60 and 120cm deep. There has been no recent activity on these layers but they could wake up with heavy triggers like a large cornice chunk or a snowmobile digging its track in. Cornices in the region are reported to be very large and potentially unstable.

Regions covered