Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Coastal
Reactive storm slabs are building at higher elevations. Take a cautious approach to terrain.
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.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A weak layer exists 60-100 cm below the surface. It may still be possible for humans to trigger persistent slab avalanches on this layer, and storm slab avalanches could step down to this layer.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
- Avoid lingering in runout zones.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanche activity was observed on Friday morning, producing several 30 cm thick slabs in the latest snow. A large (size 3) storm slab avalanche was reported on a east aspect east of Terrace.
A few persistent slab avalanches released on Wednesday, most likely failing on the mid-January crust. This included a natural size 3 avalanche on a southwest slope at 1150 m near Exstew and a few skier triggered slabs (size 1-2) in thinner snowpack areas (east of Terrace and the northern part of the region). Overall, activity on persistent weak layers has been limited, but large persistent slab avalanches may remain possible during periods of heavy loading or rapid warming.
Snowpack Summary
The region received up to a metre of snow over the past week, but warm temperatures have promoted settlement and reduced this amount to 50-70 cm. Westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas.
A weak layer buried in mid-January is 60-100 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.
In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 100 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from thin spots.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: An approaching warm front brings 20 cm to southern and coastal parts of the region and 5-15 cm elsewhere with moderate southwest wind and alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
MONDAY: A break in the storm with some isolated flurries, light to moderate west wind, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
TUESDAY: Another storm brings 20-40 cm with strong to extreme southwest wind and freezing levels climbing to around 1800 m.
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Storm slabs exist and will continue to grow with the incoming snow and wind. They will be most reactive at higher elevations and in wind-affected terrain.