Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Garibaldi, Harrison-Fraser, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Sudden warming and sun will cause a natural avalanche cycle on Thursday. Avoid avalanche terrain.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Over the past few days there have been several small (size 1) storm slab and wet loose avalanches.
Looking forward, warming will cause large wet loose, cornice, and slab avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Sudden warming on Thursday will cause moist surfaces on all but the highest north-facing terrain.
Roughly 30 to 50 cm of storm snow from the past few days has been settling, and may still be poorly bonded in higher elevations that have stayed cooler over the past few days.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clearing skies. 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C with freezing level climbing to 3000 m by midday.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 15 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +10 °C with freezing level climbing to 3500 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +14 °C with freezing level sustained at 3500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard, especially solar aspects.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Sudden warming will produce widespread wet loose avalanches, especially on steep sun-exposed slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely - Certain
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Cornices
Heat and sun will weaken overhanging cornices.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2.5 - 3
Storm Slabs
Warming could also trigger slabs in the top 30 to 50 cm of recent storm snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5