Avalanche danger will increase through the day as storm snow piles up.
It's a good day to choose smaller slopes. Be ready to retreat to mellow terrain if you start seeing signs of instability.
Persistent weak layers of crust, facets, or surface hoar are buried up to 250 cm deep. Triggering is most likely on northerly aspects, or later in the day on sun-exposed slopes when the upper snowpack has been weakened.
A winter-like storm is increasing the likelihood of avalanches at all elevations. This storm snow may be particularly reactive at upper treeline where it's sitting on a crust, and on north and east aspects that are wind-loaded.
While details are lacking, a size 3 persistent slab avalanche was remotely triggered on a north-facing alpine slope on Friday. It appeared to occur on a steep, rocky slope with a thin-to-thick snowpack.
On Sunday, north of Stewart, two wind slab avalanches were reported in the alpine. One size 1 vehicle triggered, and one size 2.5 natural.
Wet loose avalanches continue with warm temperatures and strong sun. With cooler, cloudy conditions this trend is expected to taper.
Expect 25-50 cm of storm snow to have accumulated by the end of the day on Tuesday. This covers crusty surfaces across most terrain, except in high alpine north-facing areas, where dry, wintry snow can still be found.
On solar aspects and lower elevations, surface crusts are less robust and possibly breakable and/or moist snow.
Several persistent weak layers are buried up to 250 cm deep. While triggering these layers is becoming unlikely, they present a low-probability, high-consequence problem. A cornice fall (large load) may be enough to trigger this slab.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow, possibly 25 cm or more near Prince Rupert and Kitimat. 30-50 km/h south ridgetop wind decreasing to 10 to 25 km/h by the morning. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level falling to 500 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow, with possible hotspots of 20 cm. 10-25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 750 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
