Choose mellow slopes and carefully assess conditions as you gain elevation.
Where new snow is over 20 cm deep, storm slabs are likely to avalanche under the weight of a human.
Rider triggerable storm slabs are likely forming around treeline and above, where new snow is falling on terrain that was already at threshold for avalanches.
No new avalanches were reported before 4pm on Thursday.
If you do head into the backcountry please consider submitting observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Moderate snow and rainfall is arriving with strong southwest wind and cooling temperatures. Expect the wind to strip south and west facing ridges down to frozen crusts, and form deeper, more reactive slabs on north and east facing slopes.
In terrain where more than 20 cm of storm snow has accumulated, storm slabs are likely to avalanche under the weight of a human. Below treeline, you'll likely find dirt, or shallow, heavy, moist or wet snow.
The mid and lower snowpack is made up of a series of crusts and rounded grains. The snowpack is generally well consolidated.
Overall, the snow depth remains shallow, creating challenging travel conditions and hiding early season hazards just below the snow surface.
Thursday Night
Cloudy. Light rain expected, 5 cm of snow above 1500 m, possibly more around Powell River. Moderate to strong south or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 15-25 cm of new snow expected above 750 m. Moderate to strong west or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -4°C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. Trace of snow expected. . Treeline temperature around -5 °C. Freezing level around 500 m. Light southwest ridgetop wind
Sunday
Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Treeline temperature around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1750-2250 m, possible temperature inversion. Strong south ridgetop wind.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
