Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Continue to assess steep lines for wind slab
Light snowfall and south wind has formed small wind slabs near ridge crests
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday explosives triggered storm and wind slabs up to size 1.5. It’s possible that more avalanche activity occurred but reports were not in yet at the time of publishing on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new snow has fallen with strong southeast wind, forming new wind slab on northerly aspects. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.
A weak layer that was buried at the end of January is down 30 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Depending on where you are, it'll be a combo of different crystals. With crusts on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow possible. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow. 15 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with up to 5 mm of mixed precipitation. 25 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Newly formed wind slabs could be found in exposed terrain. These slabs may be sensitive to rider traffic due to the weak layers underneath.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5