Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 4th, 2018 4:22PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Cornices.

mgrist, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Warm temperatures and rain have created difficult riding conditions: heavy down low and icy/crusty up high.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mainly cloudy with some light rain (3-5mm) or wet flurries (2-5cm snow) / Light westerly winds / Freezing level near 1200mTuesday: Flurries (5-10 cm of snow possible) / Light north west winds / Freezing level 900mWednesday: 5-15mm of rain / Light southwest winds / Freezing level 1000m rising to 2000m

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

Rain and warm temperatures throughout the weekend saturated the upper snowpack. At treeline and below, approximately 20cm of wet snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event a week ago. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the more recent (saturated) snow has refrozen into a solid crust.The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern.

Problems

Cornices

Large cornices formed a week ago and they may remain fragile. These monsters could surprise with nasty consequences. Use extra caution around ridge crests.

Falling cornices may trigger avalanches on slopes below.Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 5th, 2018 2:00PM