Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 8th, 2021 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low.

Avalanche Canada ahanna, Avalanche Canada

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Solar triggered loose snow avalanches are possible out of steep sunny slopes in the afternoon. 

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Partly cloudy with a few flurries, calm, treeline temperature -10

Tuesday: Sunny, light northwest ridgetop wind, treeline high -10.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a few flurries, light northwest ridgetop wind, treeline high -12.

Thursday: Sunny, light northerly ridgetop wind, treeline high -16.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity since early last week when a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 swept the North Shore mountains, largely "cleaning out" the buried persistent weak layer from any terrain with avalanche potential.

Snowpack Summary

Recent wind has varied in direction, likely depositing snow into wind slabs in lee terain features on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. 100-150 cm of snow sits over a widespread persistent weak layer. This weak layer consists of a thick crust with weak facets and/or surface hoar on top of it in many areas. Most terrain features where this layer presented an avalanche problem have been cleaned out in a previous avalanche cycle. Where it remains buried, this layer is becoming more difficult to trigger due to bridging by overlying dense snow and crusts especially at lower elevations.

Click here to watch North Shore Rescue's snowpack conditions update from Friday.

Terrain and Travel

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Valid until: Feb 9th, 2021 4:00PM