Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 23 – 24, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Strong solar radiation and mild temperatures this weekend could result in elevated avalanche danger during the day, particularly on sun-exposed slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    New wind slabs may be triggered in exposed lee and cross-loaded 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
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose wet avalanches are likely on steep sun exposed slopes in the afternoon.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure should maintain mostly dry and sunny conditions throughout the forecast period. There is a chance of more cloud and light precipitation on Monday if a forecast frontal system pushes a little further north. The freezing level is around 900m on Saturday and 1200-1500m on Sunday and Monday. Winds are generally light from the south.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday there were reports of a couple small (Size 1) accidentally triggered slab avalanches in steep, exposed, lee terrain features. There were also loose-wet avalanches up to Size 1.5 from steep solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate SE winds have created thin wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain. 20-40cm of new snow sits on the previous snow surface which included a sun crust on southerly aspects, surface facets or surface hoar in cool shady areas, and pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain. A variety of potential weak layers exist between 60 and 120cm deep. These include surface hoar or facets. 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.

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