Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Dangerous and challenging avalanche conditions exist. Uncertainty is best managed by choosing simple, low-angle terrain and avoiding being under steep slopes and large avalanche paths.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few remote- and rider-triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported on Saturday, crown depths averaged 50 cm and failed in the storm snow interface.
Snowpack Summary
30-50 cm of recent storm snow has accumulated with moderate to strong winds wind. Storm snow covers a variety of surfaces including surface hoar in isolated shady areas. Southwest winds have and continue to strip snow from ridgelines and exposed features and build touchy pockets in lee terrain.
Recent and older snow is settling over a crust/facet or surface hoar layer, down buried 80-140 cm. This layer continues to show sensitivity to human triggers and reactivity in snowpack testing.
The lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Sunday night
Scattered flurries, up to 5-15 cm snow. Southwest ridgetop wind 20-40 km/hr. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level dropping below 800 m.
Monday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 10 cm snow during the day and intensifying into the evening. South ridgetop wind 20-35 km/hr with gusts to 60 km/hr. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level around 1000 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with flurries, trace to 10 cm wet snow. Southwest ridgetop wind 20-30 km/hr. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1300 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting to 50 km/hr. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising above 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Gusty winds have impacted recent snowfall. As flurries continue to accumulate, expect to find deeper and more reactive deposits around ridges and open terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Buried weak layers are most concerning at treeline elevations. Small slab avalanches may step down to this layer resulting in large, destructive avalanches. This problem is best managed by finding low-angle, simple terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3