Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Sky Pilot, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus.
Continue to assess conditions as you move through terrain. Rider triggerable wind slabs still exist on northerly aspects.
A deep persistent slab problem may not seem evident or reactive but can produce very large and destructive avalanches.
Choose terrain carefully as you travel.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Monday a few natural wind slab avalanches were observed. These avalanches were small, size 1, and occurred on north and east aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Southerly winds have scoured south facing slopes in the alpine and formed wind slab on specific northerly features. A thick crust formed in late december is down 20 to 50cm. at lower elevations this crust is up to 15cm thick, in the alpine it is thin and breakable. As the sun comes out Wednesday afternoon the snow surface could become moist on sun exposed slopes.
The mid-snowpack consists of moist snow below the crust at lower elevations. At higher elevations, the snowpack is more complex and multiple crusts can be found.
Near the base of the snowpack, a weak facet/crust layer from mid November can be found.
Total snow depths are roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Tuesday night
Flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light to moderate southerly winds and a low of -13 at 1800m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong easterly winds and a high of -6 at 1800m.
Thursday
Stormy with 5 to 10cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southeast winds and freezing levels rising to 1200m.
Friday
Stormy with around 15cm of new snow expected. Strong southerly winds. Freezing level around 1400m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Ongoing southerly winds have redistributed recent snow into wind slabs on northerly aspects.
Keep in mind that if triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak, faceted snow above and below exists near the base of the snowpack. Human-triggering this layer is unlikely, but large loads such as cornice fall or a smaller avalanche stepping down to this layer are possible. Avoid thin, rocky, wind-affected areas where triggering this layer is most likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5