More snow and wind will promote storm slab and cornice growth on Sunday. In areas where more than 30 cm new snow falls with moderate wind, the avalanche hazard will be HIGH.
Summary
Confidence
Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: Snow, 15-30 cm accumulation. Moderate dropping to light south wind. Freezing level 1500 m and dropping, weak inversion.SUNDAY: Snow and flurries, up to 20 cm accumulation. Light south wind gusting to strong. Freezing level below 1000 m.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Light west wind with moderate gusts. Freezing level below 500m.TUESDAY: Snow, 10-15 cm. Moderate southeast wind with strong gusts. Freezing level rising above 1600 m.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread storm slab avalanche cycle on Thursday was reported in the Sea to Sky region. Storm slabs failing naturally produced very large (size 3) avalanches and skier traffic triggered smaller (size 1-2) avalanches through the day. Most had a depths around 40 cm, representing the total snow accumulated starting Wednesday. There have been no avalanche reports recently for the South Coast region, but had a similar storm to the Sea to Sky region and likely had similar avalanches conditions on Thursday.Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network
here.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy rain overnight has saturated the snowpack to alpine elevations and settled storm snow. At high alpine elevations above the rain, dry snow has been redistributed by strong winds to lee terrain. More snow is forecasted into Sunday, initially this new snow may not bond to the snowpack.Prior to the recent storm a crust extended to 1500 m elevation. At the highest elevations in the north of the region near Squamish, there could be a weak layer of feathery surface hoar roughly 50 cm below the new snow. Otherwise, the lower snowpack is well-settled.
dsaly,
Avalanche Canada
