Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sea To Sky, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Spearhead, Stave, Tantalus, Tetrahedron.
Exercise caution and allow adequate time for the snowpack to stabilize following heavy overnight rain and/or snow
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Natural and remotely triggered avalanches in the Whistler area have been reported over the weekend. As well as numerous reports of shooting cracks and whumffs.
We anticipate a widespread natural avalanche cycle to occur Monday night during peak warming and precipitation.
If you're heading out in the backcountry, please consider sharing any observations on the Mountain Information Network
Snowpack Summary
20 to 50 cm of heavy, rain-soaked snow sits over a variable combination of crusts, facets, and surface hoar. These layers will remain a concern in areas where the recent rainwater has not penetrated to the depth of the layer of concern. The snow line has likely crept up as rains have washed away lower elevations.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with 40 to 80 mm of rain, potentially transitioning to snow at higher elevations by morning, southwest alpine winds 60 to 80 km/h, treeline temperature 5 °C and freezing levels 2500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm at higher elevations, southwest alpine winds 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C and freezing levels 1600 m, gradually dropping through the day.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with no precipitation, southwest alpine winds 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries in coastal regions, northwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will remain reactive, especially where they sit over a layer of surface hoar crystals.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Expect likelihood of loose wet avalanches to decrease through the day Tuesday, as rain tapers and temperatures cool.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5