Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Wind slabs may have formed in exposed areas
Carefully monitor the snow as you move through the terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A local operator reported having seen a large avalanche on Wednesday morning in the northern area of our region. It is believed that this occurred naturally from the load of the new snow but that it stepped down to weak layers buried further down.
On Tuesday there were a couple of storm slab avalanches reported in our region. The most notable was one triggered remotely by a skier. It was believed that it slid on a crust formed near the end of January. Also on Tuesday, a group from Keith's Hut reported that they could hear a number of avalanches coming from what they thought was Joffre Peak.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In sheltered areas, the 25 to 35 cm of the snow pack will be of fresh snow that fell earlier this week. At higher elevation this new snow will be redistributed into wind slabs by southerly winds. Further down in elevation this snow was and still may be moist or wet, caused by warm temperatures and rain. Due to cooling temperatures a crust may have already formed. There may be a series of crust found 50 cm and again 80 cm deep. These layers have been somewhat reactive in snow pit tests.
The snowpack in this region is generally weak and shallow with sugary snow near the base. Snowpack depths around treeline range between 150 to 250 cm.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, trace accumulation, winds southwest 10 km/h, treeline -8 °C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds south southwest 10 km/h, treeline -7 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 20 km/h, treeline -5 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy, up to 10 cm accumulation, winds southwest 15 to 20 km/h, treeline -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent storm snow will have increase the chance of storm slab avalanches.
New snow and strong southwesterly winds may have formed fresh wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline. Watch for typical wind loading around ridgelines and convexities and be aware of mid-slope cross loaded features.
Deeper weak layers have not produced avalanches for sometime, but may be possible to trigger with step down avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Moderate south west winds will have developed fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. Expect to find wind slabs in exposed areas that are also below the treeline.
Wind slabs may be sitting on a crust making them especially reactive to ridder triggering.
Deeper weak layers have not produced avalanches for sometime, but may be possible to trigger with step down avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2