Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Brandywine, Coquihalla, Duffey, Garibaldi, Harrison-Fraser, Homathko, Manning, North Shore, Powell River, Sasquatch, Sea To Sky, Skagit, Sky Pilot, South Chilcotin, South Coast, South Coast Inland, Spearhead, Stave, Stein, Tantalus, Taseko, Tetrahedron.
The likelihood of wet loose avalanches will increase with each successive day of warm weather.
Be mindful of small avalanches pushing you into dangerous terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Small avalanches (size 1.5) were naturally triggered by the sun on Monday at treeline near Whistler.
With rising temperatures, we expect that wet loose avalanches will become more likely.
Warming signs of instability such as tree bombs and pinwheels were observed throughout the region this weekend.
If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report.
Snowpack Summary
Rising freezing levels will start melting the surface snow on all aspects and elevations.
Alpine slopes are wind-affected, scoured, or hold a thin surface crust. Moist or wet snow is found on all southerly slopes at treeline and below.
In sheltered terrain at treeline, large weak surface hoar crystals may still be persisting under 5-10 cm of snow.
The most prominent of several melt-freeze crusts in the lower snowpack is 100 to 120 cm deep and decomposing.
Snow depths vary from 100 to 140 cm at treeline and decrease rapidly below 1500 m, exposing early-season hazards.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly clear. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow or rain. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 to 2500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
No overnight refreeze and rising temperatures are making wet loose avalanches more likely. Uncertainty remains on how quickly the snowpack will weaken.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2