Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Storm slabs will be reactive to human triggering.
Carefully monitor the snow and make conservative terrain choices.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
A local operator reported having seen a large avalanche on Wednesday morning in the northern area of our region. It is believed that this occurred naturally from the load of the new snow but that it stepped down to weak layers buried further down.
On Tuesday there were a couple of storm slab avalanches reported in our region. The most notable was one triggered remotely by a skier. It was believed that it slid on a crust formed near the end of January. Also on Tuesday, a group from Keith's Hut reported that they could hear a number of avalanches coming from what they thought was Joffre Peak.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of recent storm snow is now sitting in sheltered areas. At higher elevations and in exposed areas, this new snow has been redistributed by southerly winds.
Fresh wind slabs will be found laying onto older wind slabs while in sheltered areas, storm snow will be resting on 15 to 25 cm of soft snow. A crust may be found in the upper snowpack on steep solar aspects and below 1800 m.
A weak layer of faceted snow or decomposing crust can be found buried 70 to 100 cm deep.
Generally, the snowpack in this region is weak and shallow with sugary snow near the base. Snowpack depths around treeline range between 150 to 250 cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Clear with increasing clouds, up to 11 cm accumulation, winds south 20 to 30 km/h gusting to 40, treeline temperatures around -3 C with freezing level climbing to 1500 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, up to 10 cm accumulation mostly in the north, winds southwest 16 to 28 km/h, treeline temperatures -8 C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds south southwest 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperatures -5 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent storm snow will have increase the chance of storm slab avalanches.
New snow and strong southwesterly winds may have formed fresh wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. Watch for typical wind loading around ridgelines and convexities and be aware of mid-slope cross loaded features.
Deeper weak layers have not produced avalanches for sometime, but may be possible to trigger with step down avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2