Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Mar 31 – Apr 1, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow and wind are expected to continue to develop new wind slabs and add to recent cornice growth.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Expect new wind slabs to develop due to the forecast new snow and wind. Cornices are also expected to develop new growth, that may be weak and fall off naturally.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–3
    A weak layer of facets and/or a crust that developed early in the winter lies near the bottom of the snowpack. Any change in the weather may affect the likelihood of triggering this deep weak layer.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Overnight: Flurries or light snow with strong southwest winds and freezing to valley bottoms by morning. Saturday: Overcast with 3-5 cm of new snow combined with moderate westerly winds and daytime freezing up to 1100 metres. Sunday: Broken skies with light westerly winds and daytime freezing up to 800 metres. Monday: Mostly sunny with light winds and daytime freezing up to 1200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

A natural cornice fall released a wind slab or perhaps a persistent slab on a northeast aspect that was size 2.5; this was reported from the Microwave on Thursday but may have occurred on Wednesday. You can see the full MIN report here. Storm slabs up to size 2.5 were reported from the western extent of the region in the Howson's, where the snowpack is more like the Northwest Coastal region. No new avalanches reported from the rest of the region.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow combined with moderate southwest winds has developed wind slabs in the alpine and in some exposed treeline locations. Periods of sun and high daytime freezing levels have developed crusts below treeline and on sun exposed terrain at all elevations. The snow may be moist or wet below treeline during the warmest part of the day. The Mid-February crust and facet layer was reported to be down 75-90 cm in the Houston Telkwas sled area on Wednesday. The deep persistent weak layer of facets and/or a crust that were buried early in the winter are still lingering near the bottom of the snowpack. This MIN report found the deep weak layer strengthening in the Telkwas.

Regions covered