Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Coastal
Cold windy conditions persist. If you get out in the mountains this week please share your photos and observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN)!
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Strong outflow winds dramatically affected the surface snow, scouring some slopes down to an old crust and forming hard deposits in many other areas. Sheltered areas may still have 20-40 cm of powder from previous storms, but winds have come from a variety of directions and affected much of the terrain. Wind slabs rest on a variety of old surfaces, including a thick melt-freeze crust and in some sheltered locations soft feathery surface hoar crystals above the crust. The snowpack is reported to be generally strong below this crust, with the possible exception of areas around Stewart and northern parts of the region where the late October crust can be found deep in the snowpack. This deep crust has been been associated with weak sugary snow and could possible be triggered in shallow snowpack areas.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Light flurries along the coast then clearing throughout the day, a shift from strong outflow winds to moderate northwest winds, treeline temperatures around -12 C.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate northwest winds, treeline temperatures around -12 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, a return to outflow winds, treeline temperatures around -15 C.
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Wind slabs are likely lingering around ridge crests and exposed gullies after a strong bout of outflow winds.