Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Powell River, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Rain has impacted an unusually cold and dry snowpack. Take a cautious approach and avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Friday with heavy loading from snow, rain and wind.
Looking forward to Saturday, the avalanche problem will likely present as wet loose avalanches in steep terrain. In the higher peaks, dry storm snow may exist in alpine areas, and reactive wind slabs may be found in wind-loaded terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Rain has impacted the snowpack to mountain top in the North Shore Mountains. In the higher mountains (e.g. Tantalus Range, Sky Pilot) 30 to 50 cm of dry storm snow may exist in the alpine and has likely been redistributed by strong southerly winds.
A crust with softer snow overlying it exists down 40 to 60 cm. The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.
Check out Friday's North Shore Snowpack Update for a deeper dive into the snowpack.
Weather Summary
Friday night
Mainly cloudy with light rain. Alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h from the south. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated showers. Alpine winds light and variable. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 15 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 5 to 10 cm of new snow accumulation at higher elevations. Alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
- Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
- Avoid lee and cross loaded slopes in the alpine.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Rain has impacted the snowpack. Wet loose avalanches may be triggered in steep terrain, and could run easily on the underlying crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
In alpine areas where the storm snow remained dry, strong southerly winds may have formed wind slabs in lee terrain features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5