Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Powell River, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Tetrahedron.
A series of storms continue to bombard the coast with heavy precipitation and warming temperatures, bringing dangerous avalanche conditions to the mountains.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent explosive control produced small storm slab avalanches on the North shore.
Over the weekend, the new storm snow was showing poor bonding to underlying weak layers. As the storm snow continues to pile up, these layers may produce large avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 mm of precipitation has fallen across the coast over the past two days. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.
At lower elevations, a new crust likely exists below the heavy, moist storm snow.
A late-January weak layer (hard crust, facets, or surface hoar) is buried 80 to 120 cm deep, this layer could become reactive the more the precipitation adds load on it.
The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with 10 to 20 mm of mixed precipitation. 15 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1200 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 15 to 20 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 20 to 60 mm of precipitation. 40 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 15 to 35 mm of precipitation. 40 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
The recent storm snow is not bonding well to the underlying weak layers. This problem is most prevelant at treeline and above in wind loaded features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Warming temperatures combined with precipitation will increase likelihood of wet loose avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5