Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Skagit, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tetrahedron.
During periods of high hazard, avoid all avalanche terrain.
A large natural avalanche cycle will continue, with snow followed by rain and warming.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Looking ahead, we expect a large natural avalanche cycle to continue with snowfall and extreme winds, followed by rain-on-snow and warming.
On Saturday at Grouse Mountain, numerous size 2 storm slabs were triggered remotely, up to 50 cm deep.
Thanks for sharing your observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 60 mm of precipitation is expected by Monday's end, falling as snow above 1600 m and as rain below this elevation. This is in addition to the 50 cm of snow from Sunday. Throughout this stormy period, winds have been from the southwest, so expect deeper and more reactive deposits on northâand east-facing slopes. Expect to find rain-soaked, moist snow below 1600 m.
This overlies up to a meter of previous settling storm snow, which was reportedly well-bonded to an underlying, supportive crust, that is now expected to be 180 to 250 cm deep.
Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
See this North Shore SAR report for additional information.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with up to 25 mm, falling as snow above 1500 m. Locally greater amounts are possible near Seymour. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 2 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with 20 to 35 mm, falling as snow above 1600 m. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 3 °C.
Tuesday
In the overnight period, 15 to 20 mm falling as snow above 2000 m.
Cloudy with up to 10 mm, falling as snow above 2500 m. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with trace precipitation amounts. 50 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- Use extra caution for areas that are experiencing rapidly warming temperatures for the first time.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm snow and strong southwest winds will form touchy storm slabs. Expect to find deeper and more reactive deposits on north- and east-facing slopes at upper elevations, where the wind will load lee slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Rain-on-snow and warm temperatures will rapidly destabilize the snowpack, with 2000 m freezing levels and up to 30 mm expected.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2