Northwest Coastal

Use extra caution on steep slopes at treeline.

Buried surface hoar has been reactive to skiers and even produced remotely triggered avalanches.

The pattern of human and remotely triggered avalanches continues. Most of these avalanches have been size 1.5 but a few have been reported up to size 2 and one size 2.5 has been reported. These avalanches have been occurring at treeline and above and on all aspects. Almost all of them have failed on the layer of surface hoar described in the snowpack summary.

Exposed terrain at treeline and above is highly wind effected. In sheltered terrain a new layer of surface hoar is forming on the surface and a new crust may be found on steep south facing slopes.

Another layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 10 to 30 cm in sheltered terrain.

Below treeline a thick melt-freeze crust exists down 20 cm and up to 1700 m.

Wednesday Night

Clear skies with no new snow expected. 30 to 50 km/h easterly alpine wind. Treeline temperature -5°C.

Thursday

Sunny with no new snow expected. 35 to 60 km/h east alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.

Friday

Sunny with no new snow expected. 40 to 60 km/h easterly alpine wind. Treeline temperature -3°C.

Saturday

Increasing cloud with no new snow expected. 10 to 30 km/h easterly alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.