Northwest Coastal

Avalanche danger is increasing as new snow and strong winds incrementally load the snowpack. Reports from higher elevations have been limited and it remains essential to supplement this forecast with your own observations and safe travel techniques.

Low - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Sunday: Flurries bringing 5-15 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong south winds. Freezing level to 1000 metres with alpine temperatures of -3.Monday: Periods of snow bringing approximately 15 cm of new snow, increasing over the day. Strong south winds. Freezing level to 1000 metres with alpine temperatures around -2.Tuesday: Flurries brining 10-15 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing level around 1000 metres with alpine temperatures around -2.

Reports from Wednesday included observations of several natural wind slab releases from steep, north-facing alpine terrain in Bear Pass. These were triggered by rain. Reports from Sunday showed evidence of a natural loose wet avalanche cycle focused on steep, low elevation rock slabs along Highway 16 between Terrace and Prince Rupert. Observations of high elevation terrain have been very limited. Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN)

Snowpack depths at treeline elevations average about 70-130 cm in the south of the region. Here, an elevation dependant 20-40 cm of new snow from last week's storm now forms the upper snowpack. Moderate to strong alpine winds during and since the storm encouraged the formation of storm slabs in the new snow. These slabs will increase in size and sensitivity in wind-exposed areas. A thick rain crust that formed early last week exists below the new snow and has produced hard results in snowpack tests. Below this crust, two weak layers are noted to have formed during the early season. (October 31 and November 11). The deeper late October layer has produced moderate to hard results in targeted snowpack tests. Beneath it, the bottom 20 cm of the snowpack features loose, sugary crystals that have begun to show signs of improved bonding. Looking further to the north of the region near Ningunsaw, the snowpack is starkly different. Here, much drier, colder early season conditions produced a shallow snowpack composed mainly of weak, sugary snow. Snow depths in this part of the region are largely below threshold depths for avalanching.