Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
As snow quality increases and freezing levels drop be mindful that weak layers persist deep in the snowpack. Small avalanches on the surface have the potential to step down to deeper layers resulting in large, destructive avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several small, size 1 to 1.5 avalanches were reported on Wednesday. They were a mix of controlled and accidental avalanches, failing in the new storm snow.
One explosive-triggered, large, size 2.5 avalanche was reported at a treeline elevation. It failed on a crust buried on Dec 26.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20 to 60 cm of recent snow, is being redistributed by southerly winds and overlies a crust. Below the crust, the upper snowpack is generally saturated from the rain events over Christmas.
A number of layers persist deeper in the snowpack, consisting of weak facet and surface hoar crystals, along with several crusts.
Below treeline, a saturated snowpack is refreezing. Total snow depths are roughly 90-140 cm at treeline and up to 200 cm in the alpine.
Weather Summary
Thursday night
Cloudy and light snow, 2 to 5 cm. Light to moderate south winds. -5 C at treeline. Freezing levels 700 m.
Friday
Cloudy and snow, 10 to 20 cm. Moderate southerly winds. -5 C at treeline. Freezing levels 1000m.
Saturday
Cloudy and snow, 5 to 10 cm. Light to moderate southwest winds. -5 to -10 at treeline. Freezing levels 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with periods of sun. No precipitation. Light southwest winds. -10 C at treeline. Freezing levels 700 m.
SaturdayMore details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
20 to 60 cm of recent snow overlies a melt freeze crust, produced during the warm weather over Christmas. Be especially cautious transitioning into wind-loaded terrain, where storm slabs are deep and may be more reactive to human-triggering.
If triggered storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak, facetted snow above and below is buried by anywhere from 50 to 200 cm of snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3