Sea To Sky

High temperatures will weaken the snowpack, especially if there is no overnight refreeze.

Avoid overhead exposure to cornices, and steep south-facing slopes in the heat of the day.

Numerous natural loose wet avalanches were reported from all aspects at treeline and above. They all occurred later in the afternoon during the peak of warming, some involving large debris (size 2).

Recent cornice failures were also reported, with some triggering wet avalanches on slopes below.

Expect an increase in avalanche activity with the upcoming warming on Friday.

A typical spring diurnal cycle is underway.

High freezing levels have transformed the surface during the day into moist snow, while cooling at night has formed a crust.

Dry snow may persist only in the highest north-facing terrain.

The snowpack is generally well-settled and strong, although dormant weak layers may still exist in shallow inland areas like the Duffey and Chilcotin.

Sustained high freezing levels with poor overnight recovery have the potential to awaken dormant weak layers.

Lower elevations are melting out rapidly.

Thursday Night

Clear. 15 to 25 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Friday

Sunny with increasing cloudiness. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level lowering to 1800 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
• Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.