Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
Continued heavy storm loading throughout the week will keep the avalanche danger at HIGH.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- The new snow will need time to settle and stabilize.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and time of day.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, but that may speak more to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. I'm sure there was an impressive round of storm slab activity on Sunday, especially at higher elevations where the snow was colder and winds were stronger. With more snow and wind on the way, natural and human-triggered storm slab activity should continue throughout the week.
Snowpack Summary
In recent days the region was pummeled by heavy precipitation with the rain line hovering around 800m. As of Monday morning, the 48 hour precipitation totals were up to 130mm on the North Shore mountains with closer to 60mm falling north of the Fraser Valley. Strong to extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into deep, dense and potentially destructive storm slabs while rain has saturated the snowpack at lower elevations. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: 20-30cm of new snow / Strong to extreme southerly winds / Freezing level at 1000m
Wednesday: 15-30cm of new snow / Strong southerly winds / Freezing level at 1400m
Thursday: 20-50cm of new snow / Moderate southerly winds / Freezing level at 800m
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An impressive storm has just occurred, and deep and dense storm slabs lurk in lee and cross-loaded terrain. New snow and wind on Tuesday will add to this ongoing storm slab problem. Watch for conditions to intensify throughout the day.