Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus.
Variable winds have created reactive wind slabs on all aspects and could be at elevations lower than expected.
Seek out the best snow in areas sheltered by the wind.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Operators in our area have reported natural and human triggered wind slab avalanches up to size 2. These have occurred in the alpine and treeline and on a variety of aspects and released at depths of around 40 cm.
Snowpack Summary
Variable winds have begun to redistribute this past week's storm snow. Wind slabs are expected in exposed terrain on all aspects at lower than expected elevations. In some areas, this new snow has bonded poorly to the underlying surface consisting of stiff wind slabs and facets formed by last week's wind and cold temperatures.
Deeper in the snowpack 60 to 180 cm down exists two crusts with facets sitting above them. They can be found in alpine and treeline elevation bands. If triggered these layers could produce massive avalanches.
The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with some clear periods, trace accumulation, winds east southeast 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -9 °C.
Monday
Mainly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -8 °C with the freezing level reaching 1000 m.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation occurring during very early morning hours, winds southeast 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 to -5 °C with freezing levels climbing back up to 1000 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy, 5 cm accumulation, winds southeast 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C with freezing levels to 1100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Shifting winds have begun to redistribute recent storm snow on nearly all aspects. Reactive to touchy wind slabs are to be expected.
Although this problem is most likely to be seen at higher elevations, you should expect to see wind slabs in exposed areas even below treeline elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2