Northwest Coastal

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Overnight and Saturday: Moderate snowfall occurring overnight and Saturday morning / Strong to extreme variable winds / Freezing level at 500mSunday: Moderate to locally heavy snowfall / Strong to extreme southwest winds / Freezing level at 1000mMonday: Light snowfall / Strong west winds / Freezing level at 700m

In the Bear Pass area a size 2.5 storm slab and isolated wind slabs to size 1.5 were observed. Warm temperatures promoted several size 1 loose wet avalanches in steep low elevation terrain close to Terrace. I expect a new round of wind slab activity with weather forecast for Friday night.

The snowpack seems shallower and more faceted in the northern part of the region, and deeper with more wind slab problems in the south. Professionals in the area note there is much more snowcover variability this year compared to most years.Around the Skeena corridor 10-25cm of recently fallen snow overlies a variety of old surfaces which include surface hoar in sheltered locations, and wind-affected snow at upper elevations. Wind data suggests the new snow has most likely been pushed into wind slabs in exposed terrain. Depending on your location, you may find a facet/crust combo or surface hoar about 60cm below the surface. Reports suggest these layers are gaining strength; however, they may be worth keeping an eye on with forecast storm loading over the next few days. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack layers are mostly thought to be strong and well bonded in this area.