Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
The new snow may be surprisingly reactive due to underlying crusts.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday we received a fantastic MIN report of a size 1.5 skier triggered wind slab in the alpine. You can see it here. This report shows just how different the conditions are between the North Shore and the Squamish area. A new round of storm slab activity is expected in response to new snow and wind on Friday and Saturday. At elevations where rain falls, loose wet avalanches are also possible in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
In the last few days the North Shore Mountains received about 91 mm of rain, and approximately 20 cm of snow with a rapidly fluctuating freezing level. Depending on elevation, the upper snowpack is likely now a mix of moist snow, crusts and settling storm snow; however, reports from the North Shore indicate that 15cm of moist snow sits above loose dry snow which overlies a crust. This combination has proven to be reactive in surprisingly low-angle terrain. Reactive storm slabs may exist at upper elevations.
Approximately 100 cm below the surface you may find a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December, these crust layers have been reported to be bonding well to the mid-pack and are largely considered dormant.
The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.
Weather Forecast
Friday: About 10cm of the new snow with an additional 10-18cm overnight / Light and variable winds / Freezing level at 700m
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 1900m
Sunday: Mostly clear skies / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 2500m
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New snow and wind on Thursday is expected to promote new storm slab development and increase the avalanche danger. At lower elevations loose wet avalanches will be possible.