Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Mar 31 – Apr 1, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Brief periods of sunshine could destabilize the surface snow on Sunday morning. Be alert for lingering wind slabs up in the alpine in the north of the region.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs may linger at higher elevations, and could be destabilized by periods of direct sunshine over the long weekend.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The sun really packs a punch this time of year - that's no April Fool's joke! Limit your exposure to sunny slopes if the sun comes out in full force.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

There may be sunny breaks on Sunday morning before some convective flurries in the afternoon, with brief periods of intense precipitation. Temperatures are staying cool for this time of year. SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with convective flurries in the afternoon (3-5cm possible) / Light to moderate south west wind / Alpine temperature -6 / Freezing level decreasing to 500m in the afternoonMONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 700m TUESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 800m.

Avalanche Summary

A few wet loose natural avalanches to size 1 were reported on sunny aspects on Saturday. We'd expect the same on Sunday with warming temperatures and direct sun.

Snowpack Summary

At tree line and below, we're into a spring cycle with a good re-freeze overnight (supportive crust) followed by daytime warming to +6 and wet surface snow. New snow amounts over the past three days (1-8cm) have been absorbed into the spring snowpack cycle. Alpine areas around Squamish likely received about 60-100 cm of storm snow and more wind early last week. In these areas the more recent snow is possibly sitting on a mixture of weak grains including a crust on solar aspects and potentially facets/surface hoar on polar aspects. Below the storm snow the snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

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