Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast, Stave, Tetrahedron.
Stormy weather continues !
Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfalls.
Natural avalanche activity is expected.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche was reported, but field observations are limited.
Recent heavy new snow and high winds make for reactive slabs at upper elevations while heavy rain likely triggered loose wet avalanches at lower elevations.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 20 cm of heavy new snow accumulated overnight has now buried a crust forming on rain-soaked surfaces at most elevations. It may add to a thin cover of dense new snow in the alpine.
A late-January weak layer (hard crust, facets, or surface hoar) is buried 90 to 130 cm deep, this layer should be entombed beneath a firm crust in most areas, with some uncertainty around the highest elevations of the region.
The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with 40 to 50 cm of wet snow or rain below 1000 m. 60 to 80 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature stable around +2°C. Freezing level lowering from 1400 m to 1000 m.
Tuesday
10 to 20 cm of wet snow or rain easing in the morning. 30 to 40 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4°C. Freezing level reaching 1400 m.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +8 °C.Freezing level reaching to 2500 m.
Thursday
10 to 20 cm of wet snow or rain. 50 to 70 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6°C. Freezing level lowering to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas with overhead hazard.
- Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Additional wet snow and high winds will increase the reactivity of storm slabs. Expect hazard to increase with elevation where all precipitations will fall as snow and to be greatest in leeward terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches will be likely on steep slopes where rain-saturated surfaces are found. Uncertainty remains about the unpredictable timing of these avalanches as the snowpack weakens with cumulative precipitations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2