Avalanche Forecast

High - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Wednesday Night: Clear periods. Ridgetop wind moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing level 1000 m. 

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with sunny periods. Ridgetop wind moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1500 m. 

Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind light to moderate southwest. Alpine temperatures near -4 and freezing levels 1400 m. 

Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -2 and freezing level 1800 m.

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to thin wind slabs to size 1.5 and loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 from steep terrain facing the sun.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred on Sunday afternoon and evening up to size 2.5 during the storm. A near miss was also reported on the Coquihalla size 2.5 on Sunday as well. Check out this MIN report for more details.  

 

40-60 cm of new snow blanketed the region by Monday morning. This snow fell with strong southwest wind building fresh reactive storm and wind slabs. The new snow has buried a mix of widespread hard crust and a bit of moist new snow below about 1700 metres and to either sheltered low density or wind-affected dry snow above this elevation. The lower snowpack is strong and settled.

Cornices along ridgelines are large and looming, especially after this storm. Avoid slopes with cornices overhead and give them a large berth while travelling along ridgelines. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.