Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
South Coast.
Heavy snowfall in the North Shore mountains (>40cm storm snow into Friday) will take time to settle and bond to a crust. Dial back your terrain selection until conditions stabilize.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Precipitation will taper on Saturday, giving way to a clearing trend on Sunday and fine (warm) weather early next week.Saturday: Scattered flurries with up to 10 cm new snow. Freezing levels around 900 m. Moderate southerly winds.Sunday: Dry with some sunny breaks. Light northwesterly winds. Freezing levels 800m.Monday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Freezing levels around 700 m. Light northwesterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Storm slabs were easily triggered by ski cutting on Thursday into Friday. See here for a good video of how easily the snow was moving on Thursday. We also had a fine MIN post describing storm slab activity on Mt SeymourExpect human triggered and natural avalanches to occur in steep, wind-affected terrain at higher elevations.
Snowpack Summary
50-70 cm of new snow overlies a crust at treeline elevations. Winds were moderate from the south east, resulting in reactive slabs, especially on lee features. Travel in many places is rugged below treeline, with many open creeks, alder and other early season hazards, although things should be improving with recent new snow. Expect snow depths of around 20 cm at 800 m and around 160 cm at 1200 m.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.