Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Sea To Sky, Sky Pilot, Spearhead, Tantalus.
⚠️ Avoid all avalanche terrain including overhead hazard ⚠️
Very large natural avalanches will continue as temperatures remain high.
Avalanches may run to valley bottom.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Widespread natural activity was observed on Thursday, with loose and slab avalanches produced up to size 4. Avalanches varied from failing within the recent storm storm to buried weak layers.
A notable size 3 natural slab avalanche was reported on the MIN on Wednesday, this ran on the basal facets near the ground. Photo below.
Continued persistent slab activity is expected, as well as widespread loose wet avalanches and cornice failures as warming persists.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find moist or wet snow at all elevations. Over 100 cm of snow from the past week is rapidly settling. This storm snow may trigger as wet loose or slab avalanches.
A weak layer of facets on a crust is buried 150 to 250 cm deep and remains sensitive to both human and natural triggers producing frequent large avalanches.
The warm temperatures are expected to increase the reactivity of all buried weak layers, producing large natural avalanches.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Clear skies. 15 km/h north wind. Freezing level remains around 3300 m overnight.
Saturday
Sunny. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +9 °C with freezing level above 3300 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +8 °C with freezing level sustained at 3300 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +8 °C with freezing level sustained at 3300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
- The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Deeply buried weak layers are producing very large avalanches as temperatures remain high. While avalanches are initiating on treeline and alpine slopes, they may run full path into below treeline terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 2.5 - 4
Loose Wet
Wet avalanches (loose or slab) are expected everywhere but most likely on steep sun-exposed slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely - Certain
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5