Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Be cautious around cornices and sun-exposed slopes, and carefully assess the snowpack and terrain due to uncertainty about buried weak layers.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports have been limited to small wet loose avalanches.
During last week's warm-up, a widespread cycle of large persistent slab avalanches occurred. The current status of this problem is uncertain, but it likely persists in areas where the upper snowpack has not undergone significant melt-freeze cycles.
Snowpack Summary
Dry, settled powder may still exist on high north-facing slopes, while elsewhere, a daily melt-freeze cycle is forming a hard crust overnight that softens during the day.
Persistent weak layers from January, February, and March are buried 50 to 150 cm deep across the region, though their current reactivity remains uncertain.
At lower elevations, the rain-saturated snowpack thins quickly with elevation.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Clear. 10-20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200-1500 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 15-25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 2 mm of rain. 20-30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 2 to 4 mm of rain or snow. 20-30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Human-triggered persistent slab avalanches may still be possible on high north-facing slopes that haven't undergone significant melt-freeze cycles. They could also be triggered naturally by cornices or smaller avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Cornices
Cornices will become weak with sun and daytime warming. A cornice failure has the potential to trigger a persistent slab avalanche on the slope below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Periods of sun and warming may trigger avalanches on steep slopes.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2