Avalanche Forecast

Looks like it’s back to winter for the next few days.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Freezing level lowering to about 600 m, moderate southwest wind with potential for strong gusts, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible with convection possibly delivering as much as 10 cm to favoured locations. 

SATURDAY: Broken cloud cover with potential for some clearing in the early evening, freezing level rising to about 1500 m, moderate southwest wind, 2 to 6 cm of snow expected in most locations. Convective flurries could produce 10+ cm in favoured locations.

SUNDAY: Overcast, freezing level beginning near valley bottom rising to about 1400 m, light to moderate southwest wind, 4 to 10 cm of snow possible during the day with potential for 5 to 10 cm Sunday night.

MONDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level beginning near valley bottom rising to about 1500 m, light variable wind, no significant snowfall expected.

Avalanche activity on Thursday was limited to two glide slabs to size 2.5 releasing around 1750 m on steep south facing slopes.

No new avalanche reports on Wednesday, however, there were a few reports of lower elevation (below treeline) that showed evidence of wet slab and loose wet avalanches up to size 2. They proved to be a few days old. 

On Tuesday, a size 3.5 deep slab avalanche was reported from the Northern Monashees. It was triggered by cornice fall on an east-southeast aspect above 2200 m. Additionally, a natural glide slab size 2.5 was reported from a West aspect at 1500 m and numerous loose wet to size 2 in steep southerly terrain. 

On Monday, numerous natural loose wet avalanches were reported from southerly aspects above 1900 m.

Isolated wind slabs may form just below ridgelines with new snow and strong wind this weekend. New snow comes to rest on a variety of old surfaces including surface hoar up to 10 mm in size that exists at treeline and above. Sunny skies and warm temperatures have formed sun crusts on solar aspects at all elevations. A crust exists up to about 2000 m on polar aspects too. Dry snow still exists on north aspects at upper elevations. Large cornices loom over alpine ridgetops.

Persistent weak layers of surface hoar, crusts, and/or facets 80-120 cm down have recently been unreactive and no recent avalanches have been reported on these layers. 

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
• Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
• Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches