Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus.
Southeasterly winds continue to form wind slabs on lee features in the alpine which may be reactive to human triggers.
Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Several skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on northwesterly aspects in the alpine near Whistler on Tuesday.
Two cornice triggered size 2-2.5 wind slab avalanches were reported on a northwest aspect at 1800 m in the Brandywine zone on Monday. One of them hit the Chocolate Bowl access trail.
Snowpack Summary
Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating.
Sun crust on sunny aspects. 10-15 cm of recent snow and strong southeasterly wind continue to form wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above. These slabs are sitting on either hard surfaces or small facets.
A couple crusts with facets sitting above them can be found at treeline and above down 60-180 cm.
The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clear skies / Light southeast ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline -12 C / Freezing level valley bottom.
Thursday
Mostly sunny / Light southeast ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -2 C / Freezing level 1200 m.
Friday
Increasing cloudiness / Light east ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -3 C / Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Light southwest ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline -3 C / Freezing level 1000 m.
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 steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Southeasterly winds continue to form wind slabs on lee features in the alpine which may be reactive to human triggers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Cornices
Cornices are large and may fail with daytime heating. Cornice failures act as heavy triggers and can trigger large avalanches on slopes that a single rider would not trigger.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3