Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
Danger will increase late on Thursday and into Friday as new snow accumulates.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornices are inherently unstable, unpredictable, and demand respect. New snow and warming will likely make cornices extra brittle.
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.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose wet avalanches were observed in steep south-facing terrain on Wednesday and Tuesday. Most were small (size 1), but a few in the Coquihalla reached size 2.
Last weekend, a few size 2 natural slab avalanches were reported in the northern part of the region on a range of aspects around 2000 m.
Snowpack Summary
New snow will accumulate on Thursday and Friday and form extra deep deposits in wind loaded terrain. The new snow is falling on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.
In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers.
The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).
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
THURSDAY: Flurries increasing throughout the day with up to 5 cm in the north and up to 10 cm in the south, moderate south wind, freezing level rising to around 1500 m.
FRIDAY: Another 10-20 cm of snow and then clearing in the afternoon, light wind, freezing level dropping to around 1000 m.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny with freezing level rising to around 1600 m.
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Fresh wind slabs will build throughout the day at higher elevations.