Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Sea To Sky.
Light amounts of new snow and extreme southeasterly winds have grown cornices and formed small wind slabs that may be further below ridgecrests than expected.
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm. / Moderate, westerly winds / Alpine low -5 C / Freezing level 900 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries; 0-3 cm. / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -3 C / Freezing level 1100 m.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -1 C / Freezing level 1200 m.TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries; 0-3 cm. / Light, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 0 C / Freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday small (size 1) storm slabs were reactive to skier traffic, primarily in lee terrain below ridgetops.On Monday, four skier-triggered storm slab avalanches (size 1.5-2) in the Whistler backcountry were reported on north facing aspects below alpine ridgetops, including this Decker Main MIN report here.
Snowpack Summary
Currently, the snowpack structure changes dramatically with elevation and aspect. Light amounts of new snow and extreme southeasterly winds on Saturday scoured windward surfaces and may have created fresh wind slabs much further down slopes than expected. These winds also created cornice growth. Expect these new cornices to be fragile.Below roughly 1900 m, the snowpack is moist and is melting rapidly at lower elevations. Check out this useful link for managing avalanche hazard during spring conditions HERE.
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.