Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Coastal
Storm snow and wind continue to overload the snowpack. Strong outflow winds and light snowfall are expected to continue into Thursday. Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard. Recent large avalanches have run long distances.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection. Choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Recent storm snow totals of 60 -100 cm, accompanied by on-going strong winds have over-loaded weak layers buried deep in the snowpack, resulting in very large, destructive avalanches.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday and Tuesday we received a reports of two very large (size 4 and 4.5) natural avalanches that are suspected to have failed on a deep weak layer near the base of the snowpack. The larger of these occurred near Snowbound Creek west of Terrace on a south aspect at 1400 m and ran full path from ridge top to valley bottom, destroying a significant amount of mature forest beyond it's historical trimlines.
Skier controlled and natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were also reported on Tuesday on north to east aspects between 1200-1400 m.
Evidence of a widespread natural cycle up to size 3 was reported from Sunday and Monday. And explosive control work on Monday produced numerous size 2.5 - 3 storm slabs on southeast through southwest aspects at all elevations.
Skiers in the Shames area on Sunday reported reactive storm slabs up to size 2 on south and west aspects. Read the MIN report here.
In the north (colder & drier inland area) near Ningunsaw there was a remotely triggered size 2.5 avalanche on Sunday with a hard slab releasing near the ground in shallow snowpack area with a gentle start zone.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong westerly winds at alpine and treeline elevations. Recent storms are burying older hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.
In the upper pack about 100-150 cm deep, is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind strong, east. Temperature near -6. Freezing level 500 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level 300 m.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind moderate, east. Temperature near -5. Freezing level valley bottom.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Ridge wind light, east. Temperature near -10. Freezing level valley bottom.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Northwest Coastal URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/northwest-coastal.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Snow and strong wind continue to build fresh storm slabs, which have failed both naturally and with the weight of a person in recent days. Avoid steep or convex terrain, as well as wind-loaded areas on the lee side of ridges and cross-loaded slopes.