Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Continually assess conditions as you travel.
Rider-triggered wind slabs remain possible on recently loaded alpine features.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, human-triggered small loose dry avalanches (size 1) occurred on steep shaded terrain on the Duffey. Solar radiation triggered natural loose avalanches up to size 1.5 throughout the region. Wind slabs were reactive to skier traffic on alpine convex roll south slopes, where recent reverse-loading occurred.
If you go into the backcountry, please consider submitting to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20 to 40 cm of recent snow is found above 1600 m. This overlies a moist snow surface or a crust on all aspects, except north-facing slopes above 2000 m where dry snow remained. Recent reverse-loading has redistributed snow into southerly alpine slopes. The storm snow is rapidly settling at treeline. At lower elevations, a moist snowpack or a surface crust is found.
The facet/crust layer that produced large avalanches during early March buried 80-150 cm is currently considered unreactive and no recent avalanche activity has been observed on this layer. This problem was confined to shallow alpine areas on sheltered north aspects above 2000 m.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rising to -6 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Human-triggering wind slabs will remain possible on steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features. As recent wind varied in direction, watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Localized loose wet and dry avalanches are still possible during sunny breaks. Be cautious around steep sun-exposed slopes where recent snow overlays a melt-freeze crust.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2