Northwest Coastal

Expect avalanche hazard to rise as strong wind and new snow form fresh slabs.

Friday night: Stormy with 5-10 cm of new snow expected overnight; note highest snowfall amounts forecast along the coast and quickly taper eastward. Moderate to strong southwest winds with freezing levels dropping below 600 m.

Saturday: Stormy, 5-15 cm snow expected through the day, and highest snowfall amounts forecast along the coast and quickly taper eastward. Increasingly strong south winds. Freezing level around 1100 m.

Sunday: Stormy, 10-25 cm forecast for Sunday morning. Southwest winds peaking overnight and decreasing to moderate by the end of the day. Freezing level below 1000 m.

Monday: Flurries, 5-10 cm expected by morning. Moderate southeasterly wind. High of -4 at 1100 m. Freezing level below 1000 m.

On Thursday, wind slabs to size 1.5 were reactive to skiers, reported on northerly aspects with crown depths 15-40 cm. On Wednesday, explosives in the north of the region triggered storm slabs to size 2.

Earlier in the week natural cornice falls and wet loose avalanches were observed throughout the region.

Accumulating snowfall and strong winds will develop slabs through the weekend. Below the new snow, a crust can be found on all aspects and elevations except high elevation north-facing terrain. In the north of the region, small surface hoar may be found above this crust. With warm, spring storms, expect snowfall accumulations to decrease with elevation and transition to moist snow or rain below tree line.

A weak layer of surface hoar from mid-March buried 70-120 cm deep can still be found but is considered dormant around the Terrace area. However, in the far north of the region, it produced large avalanches as recently as Sunday.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.