Avalanche Forecast

November 10 Update:

Since last weekend's storm, a mix of strong northeast winds, cold temperatures, and clear overnight periods have created heavily wind affected surfaces in the alpine and exposed lower elevations, topped by weak, faceted surface snow and new surface hoar. A thin sun crust may also exist on south aspects.

10-30 cm below the surface, a 3 cm melt-freeze or rain crust may be found on all aspects and elevations, tapering in thickness and supportiveness toward the alpine. The scouring action of recent wind may have brought this crust to the surface in more exposed areas. The bond of the new snow to this crust remains somewhat of a concern, especially where hard wind slabs may have formed over it. Throughout lower elevation, directly coastal areas like the North Shore and much of Vancouver Island, the surface itself is primarily composed of crust.

Total snowpack depths are approaching 2 m in alpine areas in deeper snowpack areas toward the south of the Sea to Sky highway; closer to half this amount around the Coquihalla and Duffey; and still less, 30-60 cm, on the North Shore and Vancouver Island. Depths everywhere taper rapidly below about 1200 metres.

See the Mountain Weather Forecast to help you plan your early winter trips.