Avalanche Forecast

On Saturday, low elevation wind slabs were reactive to rider triggers. A size 1 was reported triggered by a sled in a MIN report from Fraser.

On Friday, our field team observed natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 and loose snow sluffing from steep alpine terrain around the White Pass.

No new avalanches were reported on Sunday or Monday.

Outflow winds from the north have done a real number on the surface snow scouring exposed terrain, creating waves of sastrugi in more sheltered terrain, and forming wind slabs on southerly aspects. Very sheltered terrain in side valleys to the east and west of White Pass still harbour softer snow for riding.

The middle of the snowpack is very firm and settled. There is a surface hoar layer buried 60 cm (Powder Valley, Tuthsi, Paddy Peak) to 120 cm (White Pass) deep in sheltered, mostly north facing terrain features that produced some large, human-triggered avalanches in January and February.

At the base of the snowpack large sugary crystals persist.

Monday night

Temperatures will warm slightly to -14˚C brining some clouds and flurries that will deliver 2- 4 cm of new snow. Wind will continue out of the north at 15 km/h.

Tuesday

The outflow continues with mostly clear skies, winds from the north at 30 km/h, and temperatures back down to -22˚C at highway elevation.

Clear skies. Wind from the north 20 km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Temperature -21˚C.

Clear skies. Wind from the northeast 15 km/h. Temperatures -27˚C with windchill down to -39˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.