Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Apr 22 – 23, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Spring conditions. While the freezing level remains high, wet slabs will be the primary concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Rain can weaken snow surface layers and lead to loose wet avalanches in steep terrain.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–6
    Wet slabs remain possible until temperatures drop significantly.

Weather Forecast

On Saturday, light snow is forecast above about 1600 m, with light to moderate SW winds. A cold front arriving on Sunday brings 10-20 cm snow, with the freezing level falling to around 1100 m by afternoon. Clouds and a few showers may linger on Monday morning, before skies start to clear.

Avalanche Summary

There are not many commercial operations still working in the field, so information is sparse at this time of year. If you have observations from your travels, please consider sharing through the MIN (Mountain Information Network).

Snowpack Summary

As temperatures gradually cool through the weekend, loose wet and wet slab avalanches will become less likely. Storm slabs may develop in the alpine as the cold front passes through. At lower elevations, monitor the overnight freeze of the snow surface. If the snow surface does not freeze overnight or if the crust is only a few cm thick, the effect of daytime heating or rain will weaken the snowpack much more quickly than it would if there is a well frozen thick crust. Low elevation and thin snowpack areas are likely to be isothermal.

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