Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Sky Pilot, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Continually assess conditions as you travel.
Rider-triggered wind slabs remain possible on recently loaded alpine features.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, small wind slab avalanches were skier-triggered on recently loaded southwest alpine slopes near Whistler. Loose wet avalanches were also easily triggered on steep terrain at treeline and are suspected to have run on a crust. Explosive controls produced several large cornice falls (up to size 2.5) around Whistler over the past few days.
If you go into the backcountry, please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow is found above 1600 m. This overlies a moist snow surface or a crust on all aspects, except north-facing alpine slopes where dry snow remains. Recent reverse-loading has redistributed snow into immediate lee of southerly alpine slopes. The storm snow is rapidly settling at treeline and becoming moist on solar aspects.
The facet/crust layer that produced large avalanches during early March is buried 150-250 cm deep and is currently considered unreactive.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C. Freezing level 700 m.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Human-triggering wind slabs will remain possible on steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features. As recent wind varied in direction, watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Localized loose wet avalanches are still possible during sunny breaks. Be cautious around steep sun-exposed slopes where recent snow overlays a melt-freeze crust.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2