Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sea To Sky, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Forecast snow and wind will form storm slabs most reactive to human triggers in wind affected terrain at upper elevations.
Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, numerous naturally triggered size 1 wet loose avalanches were reported on solar aspects.
Forecast snow and wind are expected to form reactive storm slabs.
Snowpack Summary
Forecast 15 to 25 cm of snow (above 1200 m, rain below) on Sunday night will form fresh storm slabs. They will be sitting on either moist snow or a crust everywhere except north facing slopes in the alpine where they will overlie a mix of dry snow and surface hoar.
The storm slabs are expected to be most reactive in wind affected terrain at upper elevations.
Old persistent weak layers may still exist 1 to 3 m deep on high north-facing slopes.
The snowpack thins quickly at lower elevations.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Snow, 15 to 25 cm above 1200 m, rain below. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1000 m. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs are expected to be most reactive in wind affected terrain at upper elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
Cornices loom over ridgetops and may be triggered by rapid snow loading or people traveling along ridgelines.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5