Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Coast.
Small storm slabs may be triggerable as ongoing flurries deposit a dusting of new snow over a crust. Travel conditions may be difficult with minimal snow coverage at lower elevations and where the crust is punchy and unsupportive.
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
Thursday night: Flurries up to 10 cm, moderate southeast ridgetop wind, freezing level dropping to 700 m as precipitation starts.
Friday: Flurries up to 5 cm, light variable ridgetop wind, alpine high -2C, freezing level 700 m.
Saturday: Increasing cloud, light to moderate variable ridgetop wind, alpine high +2C, freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Sunday: 10-15 cm new snow, moderate southwest ridgetop wind, alpine high -2C, freezing level rising to 800 m.
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent avalanche reports in the region.
Have you been out and about in the mountains? If so please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). It doesn't have to be technical - photos are especially helpful! Thank you so much for all the great MINs submitted so far!
Snowpack Summary
The atmospheric river dropped over upwards of 100 mm of rain on the North Shore Mountains early this week. The saturated snowpack continues to cool and freeze into a monolithic block. Ongoing flurries deposit a dusting of new snow overtop of the surface crust.
Snowpack depth changes quickly with elevation. Prior to the rainstorm, depths ranged from 100 cm in the trees up to 150-200 cm near mountain tops.
Terrain and Travel
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Where dry flurries have dusted the highest elevations, you may be find small pockets of triggerable storm slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5