Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Brandywine, Duffey, Garibaldi, Harrison-Fraser, Homathko, Sea To Sky, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Spearhead, Stein, Taseko.
Seek out sheltered powder for better quality and safer riding.
Have a plan to manage small wind slabs if you're tackling something steeper.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches have been reported recently.
Snowpack Summary
Large surface hoar is growing particularly in sheltered areas. Thin melt-freeze crusts may be found on sun-exposed slopes.
Below, 20 - 30 cm of settled snow remains soft in sheltered areas but is heavily wind-affected in alpine and exposed treeline terrain. Cold temperatures are faceting this upper layer, causing snow grains to lose cohesion.
The most recognizable of several melt-freeze crusts in the lower snowpack is 100 - 150 cm deep in the Whistler area, decomposing, and not considered a problematic avalanche layer.
Snowpack height is around 120 to 150 cm at treeline and decreases rapidly below about 1500 m.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
SaturdayCloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
SundayA mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow, ending in the morning. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Small new slabs could form with northwest wind acting on slopes with soft, transportable snow.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5