Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Thursday night: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate southwest winds.

Friday: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow, easing overnight. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -6 with freezing levels to 1400 metres.

Saturday: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries with up to 5 cm of new snow, increasing a bit overnight. Light to moderate south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1500 metres.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northwest winds shifting southwest over the day and increasing. Alpine high temperatures around -5.

No new avalanches were reported in the region over the past couple of days, but reports from the neighbouring North Columbias included several size 1 (small) skier triggered slabs on south aspects observed running stubbornly on a recent crust layer. One recent natural size 2 cornice failure was also noted, as well as fairly widespread natural wet loose activity (to size 1) on steep solar aspects.

A couple of avalanche involvements were reported on Monday. We really appreciate this MIN report of a size 1.5 skier triggered storm slab on a northeast aspect around treeline. Thankfully no one was injured. 

We regret to report a fatality on Eureka Peak, east of Williams Lake on March 29. A human-triggered cornice failure resulted in a size 2.5 slab avalanche. It is important to remember to stay well back from ridgetops that might be corniced and to avoid slopes with overhead cornice exposure especially under the current conditions where recent rapid growth has made them large and fragile.

Light accumulations of new snow have added to wind affected surfaces in alpine areas and to settled dry snow on more sheltered, shaded aspects above about 1900 metres. Below this elevation and on solar aspects it buries crusty surfaces. Below about 1500 metres, surface conditions of the diminishing snowpack will vary according to alternating light rain, wet flurries, and overnight refreezes.

Recent warm weather is expected to have helped old persistent weak layers heal, including a few crusts buried over the last month as well as a facet layer 150 cm deep from the mid-February cold snap.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.