Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Southerly winds may have created reactive wind slabs.
Keep in mind that if triggered, wind slabs may step down to the deep persistent slab problem resulting in large avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
In the last couple of days, there have been numerous reports of storm slab, wind slab, and loose dry avalanches most of these were released naturally and a few were human-triggered. They ranged in size between one and two. Expect to see more of these avalanches if you venture into the backcountry.
The deep persistent slab problem remains in our region, especially in the northwestern zones. When making terrain choices, please keep this issue at the forefront of your thought process.
Snowpack Summary
Southerly winds have begun to redistribute the 30 to 50 cm that fell last week, creating reactive wind slabs. New snow and wind slabs sit on a variety of surfaces. In some areas, this new snow has bonded poorly to the stiff wind slabs and near-surface faceting formed by recent wind and cold temperatures.
The mid-snowpack is well consolidated. This is not the case for the lower snowpack. There is a widespread weak layer of large sugary facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity on this layer has been confined to northern parts of the region in the Chilcotins.
Snowpack depths around treeline range between 200 and 250 cm.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with clearing in eastern zones, trace accumulation with possible 4 cm in the northwest zones, winds east 10 to 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 to -7 °C.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds east 10 to 15 km/h treeline temperatures -8 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud, 2 cm accumulation, winds switching to southwest 10 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 to -5 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with sunny periods, 2 cm accumulation, winds southwest 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Variable moderate winds may have produced reactive wind slabs on all aspects to varying degrees. Northerly aspects are where they are most likely to be found. Wind slabs should also be expected below treeline elevations in exposed areas.
Wind slab reactivity may persist for longer than is typical due to the weak surface they are sitting on.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
A layer of weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, unsupported, wind-loaded terrain in the northern part of the region around the Chilcotins, Birkenhead, and Hurley.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5