Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
Cornices and surface snow could become weak when hit by direct sunlight.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
- The recent snow is now hiding wind slabs that were recently sensitive to human triggering.
- Avoid wind loaded terrain features, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Continued snowfall and strong wind from around the clock has formed large cornices on many ridgelines. Cornices are inherently unstable, unpredictable, and demand respect, especially when the sun is out.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
- Watch out for overhead hazards, such as cornices, which could trigger slabs on slopes below.
- Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, a large natural avalanche (size 2) was observed on a sparsely treed north-facing slope at 2000 m in the northern part of the region.
On Saturday, one natural size 2 slab was observed on a south aspect at 1900 m in the Duffey area and another smaller slab was reported on a steep wind-loaded feature in the Coquihalla area. Wet loose avalanches were observed in steep south-facing terrain throughout the region.
On Friday, wind slabs were sensitive to skier triggering to size 2 on north and northeast facing slopes around 2000 m. These slabs were 10 to 25 m wide with crowns averaging 40 cm in depth.
Snowpack Summary
A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. Southern parts of the region, such as the Coquihalla, received up to 100 cm of snow last week while northern regions received closer to 40 cm.
The mid-February weak layers are now 80 to 120 cm deep in the southern part of the region and about 40 cm deep in northern parts of the region. These interfaces consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Some of these layers have been reactive in snowpack tests, but no recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.
Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Clouds clearing in the morning and then sunny in the afternoon, light west wind, freezing level rising to around 1000 m.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny, light to moderate southwest wind, freezing level rising to around 1300 m.
THURSDAY: Flurries increasing throughout the day with up to 5 cm of snow by the afternoon, moderate southwest wind, freezing level rising to around 1200 m.
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Recent storm snow may still be reactive on steep wind-loaded features, particularly on south-facing slopes where it sits above a buried sun crust.