Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
Expect avalanche danger to increase as the temperature rises through the day. Danger ratings are rated for the heat of the day when the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is highest.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Sun combined with rising freezing levels will weaken the surface snow on slopes exposed to the sun.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday a skier triggered size 2 wind slab avalanche was reported from the north of the region on a northeast aspect in the alpine. There was also a report of natural size 2 wind slab avalanche on a northwest aspect in the alpine. Avalanche activity on Friday was reported as either loose dry to size 1 or wind slab activity to size 1-1.5 on northerly aspects at tree line.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits 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 a weak layer buried mid-February is about 40-50 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. 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
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate southeast wind / Alpine temperature 6 / Freezing level 2500m
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy / moderate southeast wind / Alpine temperature 3 / Freezing level 2600m
WEDNESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / light west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1200m
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New snow combined with predominantly southwest winds have created wind slabs in the lee of terrain features.