Avalanche Forecast

From Canadian Avalanche Centre.

---------- Terrace & Coastal Areas ----------
  Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Alpine 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE
Treeline 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE
Below Treeline 3 - CONSIDERABLE 3 - CONSIDERABLE 3 - CONSIDERABLE
---------- Smithers & Interior Sections ----------
  Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Alpine 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE
Treeline 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE 2 - MODERATE
Below Treeline 3 - CONSIDERABLE 3 - CONSIDERABLE 3 - CONSIDERABLE
 
Confidence: Fair - a high degree of snowpack variation exists across the terrain depending on aspect, elevation, and snow depth.
Primary Concerns:
  • Wet Avalanches:
    Most likely at lower elevations, often on southerly slopes but all
    aspects are susceptible. Additionally, at mid elevations where there's
    a thinner snowpack with rocky outcrops or where scraggly trees are
    sticking out.
  • Wind Slab: Alpine and treeline elevations on slopes immediately downwind of ridges, ribs, and in cross-loaded gulleys.

Special Message:   Here's a photo analysis from a few recent incidents (click here).
Although they aren't from coastal areas, they are instructive. There's
similar terrain in the NW and this winter you lack the typical strong
coastal snowpack.

Travel Advisory:  
Issued: Mon, Apr 6 Next Scheduled Update: Thu, Apr 9

On
shady slopes or higher elevations where a cool winter snowpack remains,
watch for wind effect: that means recently formed pillows or drifts of
deeper "slabby" snow on steep slopes below ridges. This is where you're
most likely to find the "soft slab" problem. Testing small slopes with
minimal consequences can help you assess what's going on and where the
slabs are found - whumpfing, shooting cracks, and small slides are what
you're looking for. I'd avoid time under cornices.

As spring
continues to advance, avoid being on OR below warming and melting
terrain. This includes small slopes with terrain traps. I'm thinking
road cuts, gulleys above creeks, and similar traps where even a small
blooper can have high consequences. I also continue to dislike steep
slopes with a thin snowpack and rocky outcrops. Cooler, shady aspects near treeline with a deep snowpack (more than 2m) and little wind affect is your best bet.

Avalanche Activity:  
Issued: Mon, Apr 6 Next Scheduled Update: Thu, Apr 9

At higher elevations - treeline and above - some small wind slab
avalanche to size 1.5 were reported. The bigger avalanche reports are
low elevation wet avalanches releasing with the warm temperatures. Some
were size 3 and included glide releases where the entire season's
snowpack popped.

Snowpack:  
Issued: Mon, Apr 6 Next Scheduled Update: Thu, Apr 9

Little new snow over the past few days, and the surface layers are
settling fast. Moist snow is reported to around 1500m (treeline) on
southerly slopes. More wintery snow remaining on higher elevation shady
slopes.
There
are several weak layers buried in the snowpack that continue to be
monitored by pros 70-140 cm deep in the coastal part of the region.
They show good strength (hard test results or "hard" to trigger) but
still pop. This means they are getting harder to trigger but have the potential to propagate over wide areas if initiated.


View Avalanche Observation Summary

(NEW!)

Weather:  
Issued: Mon, Apr 6 Next Scheduled Update: Thu, Apr 9

The next few days should see a consistent weather pattern with ...

Sky (Solar Radiation): cloudy skies near the coast, a mix of sun & cloud on the east side of the ranges.

Precipitation: light precipitation with only a few cm on any given day

Temperature: freezing level around 1000m near Terrace, a little cooler inland around Smthers.

Wind: Monday
& Tuesday should see light to moderate SW - W'ly winds. Wednesday
backing more S'ly. Thursday veers to a light W'ly flow.


Issued by: ilya storm

Important Notice: This is a regional forecast and significant variation may
exist within the forecast area. The information and danger ratings are intended
as a trip planning aid for recreational, backcountry users of avalanche
terrain; they are not meant to be used as the sole factor in determining the
avalanche danger presented by a specific slope. Always include local weather,
snowpack and avalanche observations in your decision to travel in avalanche
terrain. Observations and experience may lead to different conclusions from
what is reported or recommended. See disclaimer for further details. The
technical data used to produce these bulletins is obtained from a variety of
sources, including various government agencies and private companies that
participate in an industry-wide daily information exchange program. These
contributors provide data, resources, and funding without which the Canadian
Avalanche Centre could not provide this avalanche information.

 

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