Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sea To Sky, Sky Pilot, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Avoid avalanche terrain. Rapid loading from snowfall and wind is likely to induce a natural avalanche cycle.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No significant avalanches were reported in the past couple days but observations are limited this time of year.
We expect that a natural avalanche cycle could take place on Sunday.
If you are venturing into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
New snow accompanied by southerly winds will overlie a crust at treeline and below. In the alpine this new snow will fall on a variety of surfaces including dry snow and wind slab on the north and crust and wind pressed surfaces on the south.
Several crusts can be found in the upper snowpack. A well settled snowpack exists below.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of dense new snow expected. Strong southerly winds and freezing level around 1300 m with the snowline around 900 m.
Sunday
Stormy with 10 to 20 cm of dense new snow expected. Moderate to strong southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1600 m with the snowline around 1000 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. Moderate southeast winds and a high of -4°C at 1800 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow possible. Light to moderate southerly winds and a High of -5°C at 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Ongoing snowfall and southerly winds will form reactive storm slab. The largest and most sensitive will be found on wind loaded features on west through east aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Cornices
New snow accompanied by southerly winds will add to cornices increasing the likelihood of them failing naturally.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Wet
At lower elevations, where rain is possible, wet loose avalanches could occur on steep slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2