Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Pay attention to changing snow conditions with daytime warming and strong solar effect. Avoid exposing yourself to steep, sunny slopes and cornices overhead.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Wet-loose avalanches to size 1.5, occurring on east-to-south aspects, likely solar-induced, were reported over the weekend.
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
On the surface is a widespread melt-freeze crust existing on all aspects below roughly 2000 m and solar aspects at all elevations. The surface snow in northerly-facing alpine terrain remains cold and dry.
The middle of the snowpack is generally settled and bonding, with no current concerns.
At the base of the snowpack is a layer of weak, sugary facets, reportedly up to 50 cm thick.
Weather Summary
Tuesday night
Clear. Treeline temperatures around 0 C. Light southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels 700 m.
Wednesday
Sunny. Treeline temperatures around 0 C. Light southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels 2000 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy, with isolated flurries. Treeline temperatures 0 to -5 C. Light southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels 1500 m.
Friday
Cloudy, with flurries. Treeline temperatures -5 to -10 C. Light southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
The likelihood of loose wet avalanches will increase through the day as surface crusts breakdown and the sun destabilizes the surface snow on steep southerly facing terrain.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
A layer of weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, wind-loaded terrain where the snowpack depth varies from thick to thin. Especially in the northern part of the region around the Chilcotins, Birkenhead, and Hurley.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5