Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Feb 12 – 13, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–4
    A touchy and destructive storm slab, which is likely more reactive in wind-affected terrain, sits over a variety of weak surfaces. Conservative terrain selection is now critical.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Moderate to locally heavy snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 500mFriday: Moderate snowfall / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 400mSaturday: Light snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 500m

Avalanche Summary

Several natural and human triggered loose and storm slab avalanches to size 2 were reported on Tuesday. I expect ongoing storm slab avalanche activity with increasing size throughout the forecast period

Snowpack Summary

In some areas over 60cm of recent snowfall overlies a medley of old surfaces which include: weak surface facets, surface hoar, thin wind slabs, a scoured crust, or any combination thereof. Reports from the field indicate a poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces with accounts of whumfing and easy, sudden planar snowpack tests. Strong winds and slight warming have added cohesion to the new storm slab, and have shifted the new snow into deeper, destructive wind slabs in exposed terrain. The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled. Basal facets and depth hoar are likely to exist in some parts of the region, but triggering has become unlikely.

Regions covered