Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

TONIGHT: Light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind strong, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level valley bottom.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind moderate, northeast. Temperature near -5. Freezing level valley bottom.SATURDAY: Sunny. Ridge wind light, east. Temperature near -8. Freezing level valley bottom.SUNDAY: Sunny. Ridge wind light, west. Temperature near -5. Freezing level valley bottom. Alpine inversion.

Explosive control work on Thursday produced very large destructive storm slab results from size 3-4+ on north and south aspects the Skeena corridor, as well as a remotely triggered (from 400 m away) size 2, storm slab at treeline in the Shames area. On Wednesday and Tuesday we received a reports of a large (size 3-3.5) natural cycle as well as two very large (size 4 and 4.5) natural avalanches that failed in deeply wind-loaded areas. The larger of these occurred near Snowbound Creek west of Terrace on a south aspect at 1400 m and ran full path from ridge top to valley bottom, destroying a significant amount of mature forest beyond it's historical trimlines. There was also a report of a size 2 skier-triggered cornice release on Wednesday that occurred on a northeast aspect at 1300 m, northwest of Terrace.On Tuesday skier controlled and natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were also reported on north to east aspects between 1200-1400 m.Evidence of a widespread natural cycle up to size 3 was reported Monday while explosive control work on Monday produced numerous size 2.5 - 3 storm slabs on southeast through southwest aspects at all elevations.

Recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm have buried old, hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.In the upper pack about 100-150 cm deep, is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.