Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
A winter storm system is expected Sunday night into Tuesday. Significant snow is expected, however amounts are uncertain. If snowfall amounts reach or exceed the highest forecasted values, avalanche hazard will be HIGH. See "Details".
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong indicators of unstable snowpack.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features and leeward slopes.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
Saturday there was a report of a skier triggered size 1 storm slab on a north aspect at 1800 m, as well as a natural, size 2 on a west aspect at a similar elevation.
On Friday there were reports of isolated natural and skier triggered storm slab avalanches (size 1-1.5) from 15 to 25 deep on wind-affected convex and ridge top features in the alpine.
Thursday there were reports of skier triggered size 1-1.5 wind slabs 10-30 cm deep on leeward, north-facing slopes at ridge top as well as sloughing below 1700 m in steep terrain.
Last weekend, on Sunday a skier triggered avalanche was reported from around the Duffey on a north/northeast facing feature between 1900 and 2000 m. The size 2 avalanche failed on the March 8th surface hoar with a crown depth of 20 cm. And on Saturday two size 1.5 skier triggered avalanches were reported from steep northeast facing terrain at 2200 m on the Duffey. The slabs were up to 20 cm in depth, failing on the March 8th surface hoar.
Snowpack Summary
Thursday and Friday's storm snow (10- 30 cm) is sitting on a crust that is present at all elevations on solar aspects as well as low elevation northerly aspects. Whereas northerly and east aspects at treeline and alpine elevations the storm snow sits on a mix of large surface hoar and surface facets.
Deeper in the snowpack in the north of the region, polar aspects (those that face north and east) are harboring cold snow and a surface hoar interface buried early March that is about 30-50 cm below the surface. This layer exists at alpine and treeline elevations, but it is not everywhere. This layer has produced large human triggered avalanches in the north of the region in the past week.
Also in the north of the region a weak layer buried mid-February is about 60 to 80 cm below the surface and has been reactive in 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.
Read some recent observations here.
In the south of the region, around the Coquihalla and in Manning Park, the recent storm snow overlies a recent crust that caps a well settled snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall amounts for Monday/Tuesday’s storm are uncertain. Higher amounts are for southern areas, near the Coquihalla.
TONIGHT: Snow. Accumulation 5-15 cm. Ridge wind strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near -8. Freezing level 800 m.
MONDAY: Snow. Accumulation 5-25 cm. Ridge wind strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near -6. Freezing level 1000 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 2-15 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, west. Alpine temperature near -2. Freezing level 1700 m.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind moderate, west. Alpine temperature near -4. Freezing level 1600 m.
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New snow and strong south winds will build new storm slabs at all elevations. These slabs will add to recent storm snow that overlies an old surface of crusts and surface hoar and has been reactive at treeline and above.