Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Homathko, Sea To Sky, Spearhead.
UPDATED ON MONDAY AT 6:20 AM: Less snow fell overnight than expected, but reactive storm slabs should still be expected. Seek out sheltered low-angle terrain for the best and safest riding.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday a local operator triggered a cornice to fail with the use of explosives. Although it did not trigger the slope below it, it did create a size 2.5 avalanche.
Since Wednesday there have been several skier-triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches reported. These have been on the west and southwest aspects and in the alpine and at treeline.
Snowpack Summary
By Monday morning up to 25 cm of storm snow will have fallen throughout our region. This will add to the smaller amounts that have been slowly accumulating since Friday night. This new snow is covering up a new crust that exists on solar aspects as well as on all aspects below treeline. Strong to moderate southwest winds may have formed fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. Large cornices have formed from these winds. Before Sunday night's storm, up to 20 cm of soft snow can still be found on sheltered northerly aspects.
A couple of crusts with facets sitting above them can be found at treeline and above down 80 to 180 cm.
The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy, 20 to 25 cm accumulation with up to 35 closer to the coast, winds southwest 25 to 30 km/h gusting to 65, treeline temperatures between -6 to -2 °C with freezing levels to 1200 m.
Monday
Cloudy, 2 to 8 cm accumulation with up to 15 cm closer to the coastal areas, winds southwest 25 to 30 km/h gusting to 65, treeline temperatures around -5 °C with freezing level reaching 1200 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with sunny periods, up to 10 cm accumulation, winds south southwest 25 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C with freezing levels to 1000 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with sunny periods, trace accumulation, winds southwest 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures around -5 °C with freezing levels getting back up to 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- As the storm slab problem gets trickier, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
A major system moving into our region Sunday night may bring substantial accumulation by mid-day Monday to much of our region. Strong southwest winds and warm temperatures are associated with this system. Very reactive storm slabs should be expected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2