Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Shore, South Coast, Tetrahedron.
Small pockets of wind slabs may be found on lee features at upper elevations.
Uncertainty remains about the snow coverage at treeline and above.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. Recent wet snow, rain, and warm temperatures may have caused wet loose avalanches in steep terrain earlier this week, but field observations are limited.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15-20 cm of moist snow may be found at upper elevations. This recent snow is settling rapidly and bonding well to the warm and moist snow beneath. The snowpack below 1500 m is either soaked with rain or diminishing rapidly. Total snow depths at ski hills and remote stations are 60 to 80 cm, with closer to 100 cm possible at treeline. Many areas are below the threshold depth for avalanches.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy, 5-10 cm of snow above 1500 m (rain below), alpine wind northwest at 20 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C, freezing level lowering to 1500 m.
Sunday
Isolated wet flurries then a mix of sun and clouds, trace accumulation, alpine wind south 20 km/h, treeline temperature around 0 °C, freezing level around 1300 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds, no precipitation, alpine wind south 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C, freezing level around 1200 m.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy, no precipitation, alpine wind southeast 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C, freezing level around 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
With recent snowfalls, small pockets of wind slabs may have developed on lee terrain features at upper elevations. Uncertainty remains about the snow coverage at treeline and above.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5