Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Feb 21 – 22, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Watch for moderate winds to form fresh pockets of wind slab through the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    Buried weak layers remain a concern. Large avalanche can be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as cornice releases. Smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to step down to these layers.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Reactive slabs can be found in steep unsupported terrain and freshly wind loaded alpine features.

Confidence

Moderate

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Flurries overnight with about 5cm expected before becoming cloudy with sunny breaks through the day, light to moderate westerly winds, freezing level 1000m. TUESDAY: mainly sunny, light to moderate southerly winds, freezing level 1200m. WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy, light southerly winds, freezing level 1500m

Avalanche Summary

A couple of new natural and skier triggered storm and wind slab avalanches were reported on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow continues to settle and gain strength. A thin crust may cap moist snow lower at elevations and on slopes that see direct sun.  Recent winds have formed wind pressed surfaces in exposed terrain and loaded lee features.  40-95cm of snow now sits above a melt freeze crust buried on February 12th.  This crust extends up to about 2000. In some places a thin layer of facets below this crust is failing under moderate loads in snow pit tests. A layer of surface hoar buried late in January can be found about a meter down and remains a concern for commercial operations. This layer seems the most reactive in the north of the region but may still be a concern in the south as well. Shallow snowpack areas in the east and north of the region may also have a weak base of facetted snow on or just above the ground.

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