Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
Heavy snowfall in the North Shore mountains (>40cm storm snow into Friday) will take time to settle and bond to a crust. Dial back your terrain selection until conditions stabilize.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Avoid steep convex slopes.
Avalanche Summary
Storm slabs were easily triggered by ski cutting on Thursday into Friday. See here for a good video of how easily the snow was moving on Thursday. We also had a fine MIN post describing storm slab activity on Mt Seymour
Expect human triggered and natural avalanches to occur in steep, wind-affected terrain at higher elevations.
Snowpack Summary
50-70 cm of new snow overlies a crust at treeline elevations. Winds were moderate from the south east, resulting in reactive slabs, especially on lee features.
Travel in many places is rugged below treeline, with many open creeks, alder and other early season hazards, although things should be improving with recent new snow. Expect snow depths of around 20 cm at 800 m and around 160 cm at 1200 m.
Weather Forecast
Precipitation will taper on Saturday, giving way to a clearing trend on Sunday and fine (warm) weather early next week.
Saturday: Scattered flurries with up to 10 cm new snow. Freezing levels around 900 m. Moderate southerly winds.
Sunday: Dry with some sunny breaks. Light northwesterly winds. Freezing levels 800m.
Monday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Freezing levels around 700 m. Light northwesterly winds.
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Recent snow and wind will likely promote slab avalanche conditions in steep and/or exposed terrain.