Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus.
Sunshine can have a powerful effect on stability - and your desire to push into aggressive terrain. Deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A widespread, very large avalanche cycle (up to size 4) occurred throughout the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. Many slabs failed on or stepped down to persistent weak layers.
On Thursday, a few natural and human-triggered size 1-2 storm slabs were observed. By Friday, storm slab activity was limited to explosive control work. Small natural and skier-triggered loose wet were also reported.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 20 cm of snow from Saturday sits over a crust capping a wet upper snowpack. At wind-exposed elevations, southerly wind has likely redistributed the recent snow into deeper deposits on northerly aspects.
Several persistent weak layers from January, February and March can be found between 1 and 3 m deep. These layers were very reactive during the warm spell last week. Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Clearing. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1200 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1900 m.
Monday
Cloudy, with 2 to 6 cm of snow above 1200 m, light rain below. 10 to 25 km/h variable ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
- 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.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer from early March is 100 to 150 cm deep, and the Jan & Feb layers are buried 200 to 300 cm. These remain a concern, especially in northerly alpine terrain. These layers have caused recent very large avalanches in the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches will become increasingly likely in recent snow on steep sun exposed slopes.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Wind Slabs
Watch for pockets of reactive slab where recent storm snow has been deposited in leeward terrain features at upper elevations.
Aspects: North, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2