Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Coastal
For the safest, best skiing and riding, seek out low density new snow that hasn't formed a slab. Increase your caution at sheltered mid elevations where buried surface hoar may lurk.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid steep pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Sheltered openings at mid elevations are likely areas for surface hoar to be preserved.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Thursday included observations of several storm slabs releasing naturally, remotely (from a distance), and with skier traffic. Avalanche sizes ranged from Size 1-2. The remote release was noted to have slid on lower angle terrain over a surface hoar on crust 'combo' left behind by the recent inversion. Ski cutting in the Shames area also produced loose wet releases to Size 1 in steep terrain.
Looking forward, the storm slabs that formed over Thursday may remain reactive to human triggering on Friday. Sheltered openings at mid elevations are an emerging concern with reports indicating they may harbour a touchy layer of surface hoar beneath the new snow.
Snowpack Summary
Snowfall over the mid-week brought about 30 cm of new snow to the region. Northern parts of the region saw about half this amount. The new snow has buried a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. More isolated surface hoar has been observed under the new snow at mid elevations that experienced cloud cover during recent inversion conditions. Storm slabs have been particularly reactive where this surface hoar exists.
Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing 2-5 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. Light to moderate southeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
Sunday: Mainly cloudy with continuing isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate east winds. Alpine high temperatures around -7.
Monday: Cloudy with flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures to about -7.
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.
Recent snowfall has formed storm slabs over widespread temperature crusts and more isolated pockets of surface hoar. Slabs are likely to be touchiest where surface hoar is buried and in the immediate lee of ridgecrests and exposed terrain features.