Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Garibaldi, Harrison-Fraser, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Carefully assess conditions as you gain elevation. At elevations where precipitation fell as snow storm slabs are possible, where precip fell as rain the problem is most likely wet loose.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported in this region.
If you do head into the backcountry please submit any observations and or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
New precipitation could fall as snow in the alpine and upper treeline. This new snow could form wind slab near ridge crests in the alpine. Below treeline the snow surface will likely be moist.
The mid and lower snowpack is made up of a series of crusts and rounded grains. The snowpack is generally well consolidated.
Overall, the snow depth remains shallow, creating challenging travel conditions and hiding early season hazards just below the snow surface.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 15 to 30 mm of mixed precipitation expected, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm of mixed precipitation expected, south alpine wind 10 to 35 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5mm of rain possible, south alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.
Friday
Cloudy with around 30 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
- Be cautious of buried obstacles especially below treeline.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
With sustained high freezing levels wet loose avalanches are possible on steep slopes at all elevations. These avalanches will be more likely at upper elevations where new snow could get rained on.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Storm Slabs
Rider triggerable storm slab could form in the alpine where new precipitation may have fallen as snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5