Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Coast.
Wind slabs at upper elevations will be the main concern as new snow accumulates and the wind picks up through the day on Tuesday.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.
Weather Forecast
Monday Night: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate northwest wind. Alpine high -3 C. Freezing level 300 m.
Tuesday: Snow, accumulation 10-20 cm at upper elevations. Moderate to strong west wind. Alpine high -2 C. Freezing level 300 m.
Wednesday: Mix of rain and snow, accumulation 15-25 cm overnight Tuesday into Wednesday and another 5-10 cm through Wednesday. Moderate to strong northwest wind. Alpine high 1 C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Thursday: Mix of rain and snow, accumulation 10-15 cm. Alpine high 2 C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Avalanche Summary
There are no new reports of avalanche activity in the past few days.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of new snow sits over a thick rain crust. The snowpack is refreezing into a solid block in the cool temperatures. Snowpack depths suspected to be in the range of 150-250 cm around the peaks of the north shore mountains (1400 m), tapering quickly with elevation to almost nothing below 1000 m.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow falling through the day Tuesday combined with moderate to strong west winds will promote wind slab formation. In some places slabs may be sitting on a crust which may make for a favourable sliding surface.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2