Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus.
Avalanche activity is expected to rise on Friday.
Use a conservative mindset and decision-making.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity increased drastically on Wednesday. Local operators were able to trigger several storm slab, size 1.5, avalanches with explosives. Skiers and sledders remote triggered a couple of size 2 avalanches within the storm slab as well.
The most notable avalanche of the day can be found here on the Mountain Information Network. A sledder accidentally triggered a large avalanche while on the slop. The sled was buried but the rider was able to stay on top of the snow.
Early this week another avalanche of note occurred on Tuesday. There was a size one human-triggered avalanche with involvement. More details of their well-executed companion rescue can be found here on the Mountain Information Network.
A big thanks to our backcountry users who share their stories and have posted in the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine strong southerly winds will have redistributed 20 to 50 cm storm snow. These fresh wind slabs will be sitting on old wind-affected surfaces and hard crusts at higher elevations. In more sheltered areas the new snow will be more consolidated but sitting on similar surfaces. At lower elevations, recent precipitation may have fallen as rain.
A crust from mid-January can be found down 40 to 70 cm deep. A number of weak layers exist within the middle and lower snowpack, but the thick crusts sitting above them make triggering avalanches on these layers unlikely. The areas of concern in terms of triggering a deeper layer are shallow rocky areas where the snowpack varies from thick to thin.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy, 20 to 30 cm accumulation, winds southwest 30 to 55 km/h, freezing level cling to 1500 m.
Friday
Cloudy, up to 25 cm accumulation, winds south switching to southwest 40 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -5 C.
Sunday
Cloudy, 9 to 13 cm accumulation, winds southwest 25 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 C
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Snow falling Thursday night and into Friday are likely to form reactive slabs.
Southerly winds have transported much of this new snow at higher elevation. Expect wind slabs in the immediate lee of exposed areas.
If triggered an avalanche in motion could trigger weak layers buried further down in the snowpack.
At lower elevations precipitation may fall as wet snow or rain, watch for loose wet avalanche potential on steep slopes as the surface snow loses cohesion.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5