Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

TUESDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries / strong southeast wind / alpine low temperature near -4

WEDNESDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / moderate southeast wind / alpine high temperature near -1 

THURSDAY - Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries / light southeast wind / alpine high temperature near -2 

FRIDAY - Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature near -2 

Flurries and moderate southeast winds on Wednesday are expected to continue to form fresh and reactive storm slabs that sit on a weak layer. Human triggered avalanches are expected to be likely in many areas.

There was a report of a natural size 1 storm slab avalanche in the Hollyburn area on Tuesday. This avalanche was small due to the size of the terrain feature but it outlines the potential for avalanches on the recently buried weak layer. The MIN report can be viewed here.

Numerous human and explosives triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on Monday, including a few that were triggered remotely (from a distance). There were also reports of numerous size 1 dry loose avalanches.

30-60 cm of new snow sits on a crust that also has weak facets and surface hoar on top of it in many areas. This weak layer may take more time to gain strength than what is often typical for the South Coast region following a storm. Flurries and moderate wind on Wednesday will likely continue to form fresh and reactive storm slabs.  

Click here to watch North Shore Rescue's January 22 snowpack discussion, which includes a great explanation of how the recently buried weak layer was formed.

• Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
• Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Storms slabs have been reactive at all elevations.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.