Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Coastal
The weather is due to change with snowfall forecast to start Wednesday and carry through to Friday. Avalanche danger will gradually increase as the snow starts to accumulate at a higher rate on Thursday.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind loaded slopes.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Summary
There are no recent reports of avalanche activity. Reports from this weekend indicate loose wet activity on steep slopes facing the sun at tree line and in the alpine. These avalanches were reported as size 1-2 and were isolated to the recent surface snow only.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow and strong variable winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects at treeline and above. In the south of the region, two layers of surface hoar are buried early-March and mid-March are approximately 70-100 cm deep. The layers are most prominent on north to east aspects and were buried In the north of the region, these layers are around 40 cm deep.
Below these March layers the mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. However in the far north of the region there are weak sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5cm. Light to moderate south wind. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level 1100 m.
THURSDAY: Snow, accumulation 15-25cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 1000 m.
FRIDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation 10-15cm. Moderate south wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 1000 m.
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.
Recently formed wind slabs may still be reactive to human triggers in the lee of terrain features.