Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Harrison-Fraser, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tetrahedron.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface. Human-triggered avalanches remain likely.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, skier traffic triggered several, size 1, dry loose avalanches on steep south east features. A human-triggered, size 1, wind slab avalanche was also reported on an east aspect. Reports note signs of instability with shooting cracks from skier traffic.
Storm slabs (size 1) were easily triggered by riders on convex rolls on Wednesday, as the storm brought 15 to 20 cm of new snow.
Thanks for sharing your observations via the MIN if you are going into the backcountry.
Snowpack Summary
Friday's 30 to 50 cm of new snow brings recent storm snow totals to 60 to 100 cm. Storm snow overlies firm wind-transported snow in terrain at upper elevations and moist, heavy snow or a melt-freeze crust on southerly slopes, especially at lower elevations.
A supportive crust is found 80 to 150 cm deep and the recent settling snow is bonding well to it. Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 2 cm of new snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 2 cm of new snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Flurries intensify overnight, 5 to 20 cm of snow.
Sunday
Cloudy with precipitation switching from snow to rain, 20 to 60 mm of mixed precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Precipitation continues overnight, 30 to 60 mm of rain.
Monday
Cloudy with rainy periods, 5 mm of rain. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent storm snow has created fresh and reactive slabs at treeline and above. The largest and most reactive will likely be in the alpine on north and east aspects where winds continue to load lee slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2