Avalanche Forecast

Low - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

SATURDAY NIGHT: Flurries, 5-15 cm snow with higher amounts near the Coquihalla. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level dropping to 1000 m.SUNDAY: Flurries, 5-10 cm snow with higher amounts near the Coquihalla. Moderate southwest wind with strong gusts. Freezing level below 1000 m.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light to moderate west wind. Freezing level valley bottom.TUESDAY: Flurries, 5-10 cm and continuing into Wednesday. Light southeast wind. Freezing level 500 m and rising.

The new snow continues to be reactive, a natural avalanche cycle was reported north of Pemberton continuing from Thursday through Friday reporting numerous very large natural storm slab avalanches (size 3-4). Two MIN reports on Friday provide good examples of the slightly different snowpack through the region. To the north, cooler temps and recent snow produced a 40-60 cm storm slab which is now being redistributed by the wind. This storm slab is reactive with storm slab avalanches occurring in cutblocks (see MIN). To the south, warm temps deposited wetter snow. Near the Coquihalla summit, the snowpack has a 20-50 cm storm slab over a 5-10 cm layer of moist snow and temperature crust (see MIN).Unfortunately, a skier was killed in an avalanche near Pemberton on Thursday. See the Preliminary Incident Report here. The same day, natural storm slab avalanches size 2-3 north of Pemberton were reported, including a size 2 remotely triggered avalanche. Near the Duffey, the storm slab was most reactive in steep and unsupported terrain. Near the Coquihalla, wet avalanches size 2-2.5 running in steep terrain were reported.

Snow continued to accumulate through Friday, 10-30 cm new snow fell with higher amounts further north in the region. Since Jan 1, 50-100 cm storm snow accumulated through the region. Warm temperatures are causing the new snow to settle and wind is redistributing snow to lee features. This new snow rests on two variable weak layers (from Dec 26 and Jan 1). Recent avalanche activity throughout the region has occurred at this interface with the new snow. Now down 70-100 cm, there is a crust on steep south and west aspects and surface hoar in more sheltered terrain. The surface hoar layer is reported to be most prevalent in the southern part of the region (e.g. Coquihalla Summit and Manning Park) at the upper end of treeline on north and east aspects. In the north part of the region, a deeper weak layer composed of facets and/or surface hoar is buried 100 to 150 cm. This weak layer appears most prominent around treeline (up to 2000 m). There have not been reports of avalanche activity on this layer for the past week, but field observations suggest slab avalanches may still be possible on this layer where it exists.