Regions
South Coast Inland.
Expect avalanche danger to increase as the temperature rises through the day. Danger ratings are rated for the heat of the day when the likelihood avalanches triggering is highest.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: mainly cloudy with sunny breaks and wet flurries in the afternoon / Moderate south wind / Alpine temperature 6 / Freezing level 2600m WEDNESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries or rain showers / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1300m THURSDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1600m
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Sunday show primarily solar induced avalanches size 1.5-2 on south and west facing sun exposed slopes during the heat of the day. On Saturday a skier triggered size 2 wind slab avalanche was reported from the north of the region on a northeast aspect in the alpine. There was also a report of natural size 2 wind slab avalanche on a northwest aspect in the alpine. Avalanche activity on Friday was reported as either loose dry to size 1 or wind slab activity to size 1-1.5 on northerly aspects at tree line.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations and has now been affected by above freezing temperatures except for high (above 1800m) northerly facing slopes. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow and possibly small surface hoar on shady aspects.In northern parts of the region a weak layer buried mid-February is about 40-50 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region i.e.Coquihalla and Manning Park.Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.