Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
The weather forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud, yet relatively cool temperatures. Minimize your exposure to sunny slopes when the sun is out for extended periods.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to sunny slopes.
- Watch for clues, like sluffing off cliffs and pinwheeling, that the snowpack is warming up.
- Pay attention to hazards like cornices when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Wind slabs may linger at higher elevations, and could be destabilized by periods of direct sunshine over the long weekend.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Summary
There is no recent notable avalanche activity to report.
Snowpack Summary
We've seen only small amounts of new snow (1-8cm) in the past two days with daytime high temperatures rising to just above freezing at tree line elevations. The end result has given us a ~3cm thick melt-freeze crust that is generally unsupportive at lower elevations (below tree line) and supportive at higher elevations (tree line), particularly in the North Shore mountains.
Alpine areas around Squamish likely received about 60-100 cm of storm snow and more wind early in the week. In these areas the storm snow is possibly sitting on a mixture of weak grains including a crust on solar aspects and potentially facets/surface hoar on polar aspects.
Below the storm snow the snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
Weather Forecast
We'll have variably sunny weather on Saturday before a weak system comes through on Sunday. Temperatures are staying cool for this time of year.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature +1 / Freezing level 1500m decreasing to 1000m by noon.
SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level decreasing to 500m
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 500m
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- South Coast URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/south-coast.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
The sun really packs a punch this time of year - that's no April Fool's joke! Limit your exposure to sunny slopes if the sun comes out in full force.