Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Stein, Taseko.
An abundance of recent storm snow sitting on dangerous persistent weak layers makes for a complex snowpack.
Keep it simple. Enjoy the fresh powder in low-angled, low-consequence terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
With continuous storm cycles in the past week, numerous natural and human-triggered (some remotely-triggered) storm slab and persistent slab avalanches have been reported throughout the region. These avalanches have predominantly failed in north-facing alpine and treeline terrain.
Snowpack Summary
An additional 5 cm is expected on Saturday, which will bring this week's storm totals to 80 to 150 cm of new snow. This sits on a weak layer formed in early March that consists of facets or surface hoar that overlie a crust on all aspects except high north-facing slopes.
Weak layers formed in mid-February and late-January are now buried 80 to 175 cm deep.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy with clear periods. 5 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 15 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- Choose gentle slopes that have limited consequence.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Continuous storms in the past week have left numerous storm slab interfaces in the top 80 cm of the snowpack with deeper deposits in wind-loaded terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers remain a concern in north-facing terrain where snowpack depth is variable. These layers are still adjusting to the new snow load and may be reactive to human-triggering.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3