Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Tantalus.
During periods of high hazard, avoid all avalanche terrain.
We expect a large natural avalanche cycle with significant precipitation, warming and buried weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
We expect a large natural avalanche cycle to continue with significant snowfall and strong winds, followed by rain at lower elevations.
On Saturday near Whistler, a natural cornice fall triggered a size 3 slab on the slope below.
Numerous human-triggered size 1.5 storm slabs, like this one, occurred in the alpine and upper treeline.
On Friday, an explosive-triggered size 2 storm slab was reported on the early March melt-freeze crust, on an east-facing slope in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 mm of precipitation is expected by Monday's end; snow above 1500 m and rain below this elevation. This overlies the 40 cm of snow from Sunday. Expect deeper and more reactive deposits on north—and east-facing slopes. Expect to find rain-soaked, moist snow below 1500 m.
This overlies 50 cm of recent snow and then a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes and at lower elevations.
A weak layer formed in early March found down 150 to 230 cm, consists of a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes. In some areas, a layer of surface hoar is found just above the crust.
Weak layers formed in mid-February and late January are now buried 200 to 300 cm deep.
Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with up to 15 mm, falling as snow above 1500 m. 40 to 50 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 1 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with 15 to 20 mm, falling as snow above 1500 m. 25 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 1 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 15 to 20 mm, falling as snow above 2500 m. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 4 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with trace precipitation. 40 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- Use extra caution for areas that are experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm snow and moderate southwest winds will form touchy storm slabs. Expect to find deeper and more reactive deposits on north- and east-facing slopes at upper elevations, where the wind will load lee slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer from early March is now 150 to 230 cm deep with January and February layers buried 200 to 300 cm. These weak layers remain a concern, especially in northerly alpine terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Loose Wet
Rain-on-snow and warm temperatures will rapidly destabilize the snowpack, with 1750 m freezing levels and up to 20 mm expected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2