Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Sky Pilot, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Continue to assess steep lines for wind slab
Light snowfall and west wind may form small wind slabs by late afternoon
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday explosives triggered one size 1 wind slab avalanche. No other avalanches were reported on Thursday or Wednesday.
A few small wind slab avalanches were triggered in alpine terrain on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 5 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate throughout Saturday, covering a variety of surfaces. In sheltered terrain, it will land on facets and surface hoar, while on exposed slopes it will overlie wind-affected snow and a sun crust.
A weak layer that was buried at the end of January is down 30 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Depending on where you are, it'll be a combo of different crystals. With crusts on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Partly cloudy with trace amounts of snow possible. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
°C.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Over the past few days the wind has come from a variety of directions. Small wind slab may exist on all aspects in exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5