Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Harrison-Fraser, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, South Coast, Stave, Tetrahedron.
⚠️ Avoid all avalanche terrain ⚠️
Large natural avalanches are expected as heat continues to weaken the snowpack.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Observations are currently limited.
We expect continued natural avalanche activity with warming and strong sunshine.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find moist or wet snow at most elevations except the highest north facing terrain features. 30-50 cm of storm snow from the past few days is expected to become moist and more reactive to human and natural triggers.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and dense, however buried crusts exist that may make for good sliding surfaces for avalanche activity as the warming affects deeper into the snowpack.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly clear. 20-30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels remain above 3000 m overnight.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 15 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +10 °C with freezing level climbing to 3500 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +14 °C with freezing level steady at 3500 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +15 °C with freezing level remaining at 3500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As freezing levels remain high overnight the snowpack will not have a chance to refreeze and gain strength. Wet avalanches (loose or slab) are expected in any avalanche terrain but most likely on steep sun-exposed slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely - Certain
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Storm Slabs
Warming and or cornice fall is also likely to trigger slabs in the top 30 to 50 cm of recent storm snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5