Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Feb 25 – 26, 2021Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Overnight snow and wind will form fresh storm slabs that are expected to become increasingly reactive throughout the day; especially in wind affected terrain. Choose very conservative terrain away from overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    New snow and wind are expected to form touchy storm slabs reactive to human triggers; especially in wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system. Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

  

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Snow; 5-15 cm. / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / Alpine low -12 / Freezing level 500 m.

THURSDAY: Snow; 10-15 cm, with another 5-10 cm. overnight / Moderate, west ridgetop wind / Alpine high -5 / Freezing level 1100 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm. / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / Alpine high -7 / Freezing level 900 m.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / Alpine high -7 / Freezing level 800 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, touchy conditions including a natural size 3 wind slab and a rider remotely triggered 1.5 wind slab were reported northwest of Pemberton Meadows. Strong southwest winds have created thick wind slabs at upper elevations that may remain reactive to human triggers.

The incoming snow and strong southwest winds Wednesday night/Thursday are expected to form storm slabs reactive to human triggers.

Snowpack Summary

The incoming snow and strong southwest winds Wednesday night/Thursday are expected to form storm slabs reactive to human triggers; especially in wind affected terrain.

Weather stations suggest snowfall amounts from the weekend are 30-50 cm in the Cascades, 20-30 cm at the Duffey, 30-50 cm northwest of Pemberton, and 10-20 cm in the Chilcotin. In all parts of the region, alpine terrain will be heavily wind affected after strong to extreme southwest winds. Freezing levels reached 1500 m during the storm, so expect a rain crust at lower elevations. Recent weather has helped strengthen the lower snowpack including previous layers of concern.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Regions covered