Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
Forecast snow and southerly wind may form fresh wind slabs at upper elevations.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, a skier triggered a size 1 wind slab on a north aspect in the alpine. Numerous naturally triggered size 1 wet loose avalanches were also reported on solar aspects.
NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.
Snowpack Summary
Forecast snow and southerly wind may form fresh wind slabs at upper elevations.
These slabs will overlie mostly crusty surfaces other than northerly aspects in the alpine where the snow surface remained dry.
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
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm snow above 1500 m, rain below. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 10 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 3 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Forecast snow and southerly wind may form fresh wind slabs at upper elevations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Human-triggered persistent slab avalanches may still be possible on high north-facing slopes. They are most likely to be triggered by cornice falls or smaller avalanches in motion.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
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: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5