Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: A series of frontal systems is expected to affect the region over the next few days bringing steady precipitation and seasonal temperatures. Â Overnight and Thursday: Periods of snow â 20-30 cm. The freezing level is around 600 m. Winds are moderate to strong from the west-southwest. Friday: Heavy snowfall â 30-40 cm. The freezing level remains around 500-600 m and winds are strong from the west.Saturday: Cloudy with light snow. The freezing level is around 500 m and winds ease to moderate from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural avalanche activity is limited to size 1-1.5 loose snow avalanches in steep terrain. Explosive control in Bear Pass produced a few size 2-2.5 slab avalanches on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
A layer of surface hoar and a sun crust are now buried by a few cm's of new snow. Below this the recent storm snow has settled and gained strength over the past couple days. Pockets of wind slab have formed on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain near ridge crests, and may be susceptible to triggering in steep terrain. Cornices that now loom over many features may become weak with continued growth and/or daytime warming. The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally well settled.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 5
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 4