Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Birkenhead, Brandywine, Duffey, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sea To Sky, South Chilcotin, South Coast Inland, Spearhead, Stein, Tantalus, Taseko.
Verify that conditions are safe before entering committing slopes
Remain cautious when travelling on or under corniced ridges and sunny slopes.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several large cornice falls up to size 2.5 have occurred in the region recently. Some triggered slabs up to 1.5 m deep below them.
Numerous recent natural loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were reported from all aspects at treeline and above. They all occurred later in the afternoon during peak daytime warming.
With good overnight freezes, cooling and more cloud in the forecast, we expect to see avalanche activity decrease.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is generally well-settled and strong, although dormant weak layers may still exist in isolated areas. These layers now typically need a large trigger such as a cornice fall to initiate.
Isolated flurries may deliver a dusting of up to 5 cm of new snow at upper elevations on Sunday. Otherwise, a typical spring diurnal cycle is underway. Warm temperatures during the daytime melt the upper snowpack, making it moist or wet. Cooling at night then usually forms a hard crust at upper elevations. Lower elevations may not refreeze overnight and are melting out rapidly.
Dry snow may persist in the highest shady north-facing terrain.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature low of -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m, falling to 1000 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with isolated flurries to 5 cm above 1200 m. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Periods of low danger may be a good time to increase your exposure.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Problems
Cornices
Several recent large natural and explosive-triggered cornice failures have occurred. Cornices are large this time of year and can surprise you by breaking further back than expected. They can also trigger large slabs below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2