Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

FRIDAY NIGHT - Rain and wet snow 15-30 cm/mm / southwest wind 60-80 km/h / alpine low temperature near 2 / freezing level 1400 m

SATURDAY - Rain and wet snow, 40-80 cm/mm with another 60 cm/mm overnight / southwest wind, 60-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near 3 / freezing level 1400 m

SUNDAY - Flurries, 10-15 cm / west wind 30-50 km/hr / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 800 m

MONDAY - Wet snow, 10 cm / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature near 1 / freezing level 1200 m

Slab avalanche activity is expected at upper elevations where the precipitation is falling as snow.  

Wet loose avalanches may occur at lower elevations where the snow has been soaked by rain.

There were a few size 1-2 explosives triggered avalanches reported in the North Shore mountains on Thursday.

There were numerous avalanches up to size 1.5 reported in the North Shore mountains during the storm on Wednesday. It is likely that a widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred throughout the region on Wednesday as well, especially at higher elevations.

Depending on elevation, the region may see between 50-110 cm of snow, or 50-110 mm of rain between Friday night and Saturday afternoon. It is likely that this precipitation will fall as rain on all but the highest terrain.

This will bring recent fresh snow amounts at upper elevations to as much as 200-250 cm, and the new snow sits on a crust in many areas, and may also sit on surface hoar in some places. At lower elevations, the snowpack will be rain-soaked.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.
• The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.