Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
Low danger does not mean no danger. Stubborn old wind slabs, large cornices and the daily cycle of loose wet avalanches demand our respect.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful around wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and in extreme terrain.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Summary
No recent notable avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Last week's storm brought up to 15 cm of new snow to the alpine while rain saturated the upper snowpack at treeline and below. Surface conditions on solar aspects and below about 1500 m have been affected by daily melt-freeze cycles. In the limited alpine terrain where the recent precipitation fell as snow, stubborn old wind slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
Below any recent snow accumulations, the overall snowpack is well settled and strong.
Cornices loom over many ridge lines. Cornices become more unstable during the day as the temperature rises, especially when they are receiving direct sun.
Weather Forecast
Monday and Tuesday offer a drying trend for most of the province. A low approaching from the Gulf of Alaska may bring precipitation to the region beginning Wednesday afternoon.
MONDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level holding at 1100 m, light northwest wind, 0.5 to 2 mm precipitation possible.
TUESDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level beginning at 1000 m rising to 1200 m, light west wind, no significant precipitation expected.
WEDNESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level beginning at 1000 m rising to 1200 m, light to moderate southwest wind, 2 to 5 mm of precipitation possible in the afternoon.
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Stubborn old wind slabs may still be sensitive to human triggering near ridge crest, but this is likely only a problem in more extreme terrain. Loose wet avalanche hazard increases with daytime warming at lower elevations and on solar aspects.