Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Feb 27 – 28, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Conditions may change dramatically with aspect and elevation across the region. Avalanche danger may be lower in areas that receive less than 20cm of snow overnight and through Sunday.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3–6
    Several buried weak layers remain a concern depending on where you are in the region. In thin snowpack areas large avalanches can be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Sustained snowfall means that storm slabs are expected to be reactive through the forecast period, especially in unsupported or wind loaded features.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: snow overnight with flurries continuing through the day, up to 20cm expected for coastal areas and around 15cm for inland regions, moderate southerly winds, 1000m freezing level. MONDAY: flurries continue with accumulations of up to 10cm possible, light to moderate southwesterly winds, 800m freezing level. TUESDAY: Light snow with another 10cm possible before clearing, light easterly winds, 1000m freezing level.

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity was reported on Thursday with numerous natural and artificially controlled avalanches up to size two at all elevations. Wind slabs, storm slabs and cornice releases were reported at alpine and treeline elevations while several glide cracks and large loose wet avalanches released bellow treeline. On Wednesday a couple of very large wind slab avalanches are suspected to have run on the early February crust in the bear pass highway corridor.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been heaviest in the north of the region, creating storm and wind slabs. Up to 30cm of new snow now sits above old wind effected snow, a crust on sunny aspects or surface hoar in isolated sheltered and shady locations. Previous strong winds created widespread wind slabs and wind pressed surfaces at alpine and treeline elevations. An old crust buried around February 12th that extends up to about 2000m can now be found down 60-80cm. A layer of surface hoar buried late in January remains a lingering concern in the far North of the region.

Regions covered