Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Brandywine, Coquihalla, Duffey, Garibaldi, Harrison-Fraser, Homathko, Manning, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sea To Sky, Skagit, Sky Pilot, South Chilcotin, South Coast, South Coast Inland, Spearhead, Stave, Stein, Tantalus, Taseko, Tetrahedron.
Mild temperature and elevated freezing level continue.
Uncertainty remains whether the heat will continue to impact the snowpack.
Back off steep slopes if moist / wet snow surface is found.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous wet loose avalanches (size 1.5 to 2) were naturally triggered by the sun on steep sun-exposed terrain at treeline and alpine throughout the region in the last 3 days.
If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report.
Snowpack Summary
The surface consists of a mix of melt-freeze crust and moist snow on all aspects.
Alpine slopes are wind-affected, scoured, or hold a thin surface crust. At treeline, a widespread layer of large weak surface hoar crystals was observed at the snow surface on sheltered terrain.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Snow depths vary from 100 to 140 cm at treeline and decrease rapidly below 1500 m, exposing early-season hazards.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m. Alpine temperature inversion.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 mm of rain. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with heavy rain or wet snow. 30 to 50 mm. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2°C. Freezing level 2500 m lowering to 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches remain possible as mild air temperature continues. It could become a problem on steep slopes where wet or moist snow is found. Uncertainty remains about whether the heat will continue to impact the snowpack.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5