Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods. Freezing level valley bottom. Alpine high -1. Light southeast winds. WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Freezing level 1000 m. Alpine high near -4. Light east-southeast winds. THURSDAY: Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm. Freezing level 1200 m. Alpine high near -3. Light to moderate east-north east winds.FRIDAY: Flurries, 5-15 cm with heavier snowfall amounts near the Coquihalla and continuing into Saturday. Freezing level rising from 1200 m. Alpine high near -2. Light increasing moderate southwest winds.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

On Monday, explosives triggered cornices in the alpine and one size 2 loose-wet avalanche on a south aspect at 2200 m. Size 1-2 natural loose wet avalanches were reported on Saturday and Sunday.Small cornice falls were observed near the Coquihalla on Saturday, and on Sunday cornices were triggered by explosives near Duffey Lake. In the neighboring Sea to Sky region, several large cornice falls have occurred during the warm spell - beware if you are in cornice country.One very large (size 3) natural storm slab avalanche was observed on Chipmunk Mountain near Pemberton. This avalanche occurred either Friday or Saturday on a north aspect between 1600-1950 m in un-skiable terrain.

Colder overnight temperatures are promoting better recovery of the snowpack, refrozen crusts may be found on all aspects below about 1800-2000 m; and on sunny aspects in the alpine. These may break down with sunshine and warming through the day. Cold, dry and wind-affected snow may still be found on more north-facing and polar aspects in the alpine and around treeline. Warmth has promoted settlement of the snowpack and helped bond old wind slabs. At alpine elevations, variable areas of wind slabs and dry snow may be found. However, a generally well-settled upper snowpack is reported, with supportive crusts in the upper snowpack that are isolating deeper snowpack weaknesses. Most of our observations come from the Duffey Lake and Coquihalla regions, so if you are venturing further afield, the local snowpack may not be as strong. Please investigate.There remains a small chance of triggering a deeply buried crust/facet layer with a heavy trigger such as a cornice fall, or from a thin spot.