Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Feb 16, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Wind-affected snow is found almost everywhere in the region.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Recent strong winds may have created isolated small slabs in steep terrain features, if any snow was still available for transport.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, isolated flurries possible.SATURDAY: Mostly clear skies, light to moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -15 C.SUNDAY: Clear skies, light to moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -10 C.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, moderate northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

A few wind slab avalanches were observed around Bear Pass on Thursday, caused by strong southeasterly wind. Otherwise, no recent avalanches have been observed in the region.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface has been heavily wind affected. You will likely find a variety of hard slabs, wind-pressed snow, sastrugi, and melt-freeze crust where the wind has scoured down to it. In sheltered areas below treeline, you may find pockets of soft snow that overlies a thick melt-freeze crust. In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two or three weak layers of feathery surface hoar crystals buried between 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.

Regions covered