Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sasquatch, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus.
Storm slabs continue to build while temperatures rise. Avalanches may step down to underlying weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several small natural and human caused avalanches have been reported since the line of storms has begun. These include wind slabs and storm slabs. Some have stepped down to layers 40 to 60 cm deep in the snowpack.
At lower elevations, small wet snow avalanches have been reported as the warming begins. These are expected to continue and be more prevalent at higher elevations as the warming trend continues.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow may overlie soft, faceted snow, or surface hoar in sheltered terrain. In exposed terrain, it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.
A weak layer that was buried at the end of January is down 30 to 80 cm in the snowpack. Depending on where you are, it'll be a combination of different crystals. With crusts on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots.
The mid and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1300 m.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 5 to 20 mm of mixed precipitation. 20 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 20 to 40 mm of mixed precipitation. 20 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1800 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 20 to 40 mm of mixed precipitation. 30 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers and result in very large avalanches.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
This snow lands on a variety of surfaces including crust, surface hoar, or wind slab. Expect deeper slabs on lee aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Loose Wet
Back off of slopes as temperatures rise and snow surface becomes wet. Watch for signs of warming such as snow shedding off trees and pinwheeling off of steep slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers that formed during the January drought may become active again with increased load and warm temperatures. Smaller storm slabs may step down to these layers and become large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3