Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.
Northeast winds may have created reactive wind slabs in areas where you may not typically see them.
Pay attention as you transition into wind-affected terrain and avoid sunny slopes later in the day.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity was reported since Friday.
Several rider-triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on lee aspects at upper elevations on Friday.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
At higher elevations, winds that have switched from the southwest to the northeast may have developed wind slabs on all aspects.
Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north-facing high alpine terrain, the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.
The mid and lower snowpack consists of a number of old crusts and facetted snow that continue to be monitored, particularly in shallow snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Clear, no accumulation, winds northeast 35 to 40 km/h, freezing levels coming down to 1000 m.
Wednesday
Sunny with few clouds, no accumulation, winds northeast 30 km/h switching to west 15 km/h, freezing levels up to 2000 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud, potential trace accumulation late in the day, winds west 15 to 20 km/h, freezing levels to 1600 m.
Friday
Cloudy, 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 25 km/h, freezing levels 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds switching from the southwest to the northeaster may have developed wind slabs in the alpine and even down into the treeline.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Loose Wet
Small wet loose avalanches could occur in the afternoon on solar aspects.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5