Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Heavy rain, snow, and strong winds are certain to elevate avalanche danger ratings in upper elevation terrain.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent avalanche reports in the region.
Increasing snowfall mixed with rain and strong southwest wind are certain to induce a natural avalanche cycle.
If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
New snow mixed with rain will bury a firm crust at treeline and will become increasingly unstable as the new snow rapidly gets deeper. North through east-facing slopes in the alpine may have buried surface hoar which sits over moist snow.
Snow depths at treeline vary across the region from 65 cm to 150 cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with wet flurries 1 to 5 mm. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Friday
Snow at higher elevations and rain 20 to 40 mm. 25 to 75 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Saturday
Snow at higher elevations and rain 30 to 40 mm. 25 to 75 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Snow 1 to 2 cm. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As rain begins to unconsolidated and weaken the upper snowpack , expect naturally trigger avalanches to occur on all aspects and at elevations below 1700 m.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
New and building wind slabs are likely to be forming on north aspect terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2