Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Coast.
Use extra caution near ridge crests and steep roll overs where storm slab avalanches are likely to be largest and most reactive.
Confidence
Moderate - We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.
Weather Forecast
Friday night: stormy with around 20 cm of snow at higher elevations. Moderate southeast winds and a low of -1 at 1200 m.
Saturday: stormy with around 20 cm of new snow at higher elevations. Moderate southerly winds . Freezing level around 1400 m.
Sunday: mostly cloudy with flurries bringing up to 10cm of snow. Freezing level around 800 m. Light southerly winds.
Monday: stormy with up to 30 cm of snow. Light to moderate southeast winds and freezing levels around 1100 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday ski cutting produced loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 at treeline. We suspect rider triggerable storm slabs will be found at treeline and above on Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
New storm slabs will form over Friday night and during the day on Saturday. around 20 cm overlies a crust from the middle of the month. Below this crust 50 to 70 cm overlies another melt-freeze crust which exists at all elevations and on all aspects except for high elevation north aspects. The snowpack is considered well-settled and strong below this crust.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
New storm and wind slabs will form over Friday night and during the day on Saturday. These slabs will be largest on Northerly aspects where wind loading is most likely to occur.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Use extra caution on steep slopes at lower elevations forecasted precipitation could fall as rain at lower elevations causing the snowpack to loose strength.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5