Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
It's still winter in the mountains. Watch for storm slabs that sit on crusts, surface hoar and/or facets at upper elevations. These slabs may be surprisingly deep on leeward slopes near ridge crests.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes if solar radiation becomes strong.
- Watch for whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches which indicate unstable storm slabs.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Avalanche Summary
Thursday morning ski cutting work on the North Shore mountains produced loose, dry storm snow releases (size 1) above 1000 m and loose, wet size 1 releases below 1000 m.
There have been no reports from the northern part of the region around Squamish, however it's likely that a natural avalanche cycle occurred in high alpine terrain with the recent storm.
Snowpack Summary
Around 45 mm of precipitation has fallen since Thursday. Rain transitioned to snow above 1000 m Thursday morning which produced about 25 cm of snow with light to moderate east/southeast wind. The warm to cold nature of the storm has allowed the new snow to bond well to the old surface up to treeline.
The alpine likely saw very little if any rain and more snow/wind. Up high the new snow is likely sitting on a mixture of weak grains including a crust on solar aspects and potentially facets/surface hoar on polar aspects.
Below the recent storm snow the snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Increasing cloud and flurries in the afternoon. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, southwest. Temperature at treeline near -3. Freezing level 800 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 10-15 cm. Ridge wind light, southwest. Temperature at treeline near -2. Freezing level 1000 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy, flurries or light rain. Precipitation 10 -15 mm. Ridge wind moderate, southwest. Temperature at treeline +2. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
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Thursday's storm came in with moderate southerly wind that has likely formed slabs on alpine lee features that may remain sensitive to human triggering. Periods of sun may also induce natural avalanche activity on solar aspects on Sunday.