Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, Homathko, Sea To Sky, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Sunshine can have a powerful effect on stability - and your desire to push into aggressive terrain. Deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A widespread avalanche cycle occurred in the region mid last week, with avalanches up to size 3.5 (very large) reported. In many cases, storm slabs or wet avalanches stepped down to deeper persistent weak layers.
Natural avalanche activity has since tapered off, but human-triggered avalanches remain possible to likely at upper elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 cm of moist snow from Saturday sits over a crust forming over a wet upper snowpack at most elevations. In the high alpine, southerly wind has likely redistributed the recent snow into deeper deposits on northerly aspects.
The early March weak layer of facets, or surface hoar on a crust, is now down 60 to 130 cm. Very large avalanches (up to size 3.5) were reported on this layer this past week. Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 140 to 200 cm deep.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Clear. 5 to 15 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Daytime freezing level 2000 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1500 m, light rain below. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Daytime freezing level 2000 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Daytime freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
- Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
- Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers remain a concern, especially in north-facing terrain and where snowpack depth is variable. Avoid steep and shallow rocky features at upper elevations. These layers have caused recent very large avalanches in the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches will become increasingly likely in recent snow on steep sun exposed slopes.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Wind Slabs
Watch out for wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: North, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2