Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Rider-triggered sluffing is likely in steep, sheltered terrain.
New snow and wind may form reactive wind slabs at higher elevations.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Numerous small (up to size 1.5) dry loose avalanches have been reported recently throughout the region, both natural and skier-triggered.
No recent slab avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
As much as 10 cm of new snow has accumulated in areas, with variable wind, potentially forming new wind slabs in exposed terrain. This new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered terrain. A sun crust likely exists at or just below the surface on south-facing slopes.
20 to 50 cm overlies a variety of layers from late January. In most areas, it is a hard slippery crust, however, on shady, upper-elevation slopes, it may be weak faceted grains or surface hoar.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Wind slabs are isolated, but may remain reactive.
- Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Small wind slabs may be triggerable in steep terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Dry
Loose-dry avalanches are most likely in steep terrain sheltered from wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5