Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Closely monitor conditions as you gain elevation. Up high, where precipitation may have fallen as snow, rider triggerable storm slabs are likely.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Observations from alpine terrain in this forecast region have been limited. We suspect that natural avalanches have been occurring at high elevations where precipitation has been falling as snow.
Snowpack Summary
In high alpine terrain recent precipitation may have fallen as snow and formed storm and wind slabs. At treeline the majority of recent precipitation has fallen as rain , with fluctuating freezing levels a mix of heavy snow and crusts could be found. Below treeline the snowpack is saturated and disappearing.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with around 10 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level around 1400 m.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 30 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 40 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 40 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 100 mm of rain expected, south alpine wind 50 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 2800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Heavy snowfall with strong winds overnight and through the day will create fresh storm slabs. Expect deeper and touchier slabs on north aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches will be possible in steep terrain where the snow surface is wet. They will be largest at treeline where precipitation may initially fall as snow and then switch to rain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5