Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
Snowfall amounts are uncertain Thursday night into Friday. Higher amounts are expected in the southern portion of the region. If amounts are higher than forecast, the danger rating may be higher than what is indicated.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
New snow and warming will likely make cornices extra brittle.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose wet avalanches were observed in steep south-facing terrain on Wednesday and Tuesday. Most were small (size 1), but a few in the Coquihalla reached size 2.
Snowpack Summary
New snow accumulating on Thursday into Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.
In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).
Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Flurries overnight Thursday into Friday, accumulation 10-20cm then a mix of sun and cloud through Friday / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 700m
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light south wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1400m
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature 6 / Freezing level 2200m
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New snow combined with predominantly southerly winds will create wind slabs in the lee of terrain features.