Avalanche Forecast

High -

FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloudiness / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low -4 C / Freezing level 1000 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-10 cm. / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -3 C / Freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -4 C / Freezing level 1400 m.MONDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine high -2 C / Freezing level 1600 m.

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday.A MIN report from Blowdown here documents a size 2 skier triggered wind slab avalanche on a northeast alpine aspect on Monday.A MIN report from the Whistler Backcountry here documents a similar skier triggered slab avalanche on Monday. The avalanche was triggered on a northwesterly aspect in lee terrain below a ridge feature. While outside the forecast region, the avalanche highlights the wind slab problem that exists in the South Coast Inland.

Currently, the snowpack structure changes dramatically with elevation and aspect. 10-20 cm. of recent storm snow (amounts tapering with elevation) is sitting on a melt/freeze crust, except for north facing terrain above 2000 m. where the old snow surface remained dry and small surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) may be present in isolated locations. This recent snow has been affected by the sun and re-distributed by southerly winds, forming wind slabs on lee features below ridgetops.Below roughly 1900 m, the snowpack is moist and is melting rapidly at lower elevations. Check out this useful link for managing avalanche hazard during spring conditions HERE.