| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| At Treeline | 4 High | 3 Considerable | 1 Low |
| Below Treeline | 3 Considerable | 2 Moderate | 1 Low |
Expect loose wet avalanches on steep open slopes as heavy rain saturates the upper snowpack
Isolated wet slab avalanches are possible at higher elevations on Monday
The danger ratings have been changed as of 0700 on Monday. Over 30cm of new snow fell overnight and the freezing level stayed below 1200m. Snow may change to rain this morning, which will cause the danger to rise. Rain should pick up again this evening and into Tuesday, resulting in another spike in avalanche danger (likely overnight).
The avalanche danger will rise as rain soaks the upper snowpack; however, the highest danger may occur overnight on Sunday and we could see a rapid decrease earlier on Monday.
10-15mm of rain is expected on Sunday night as the freezing level rises to 1600m. Monday: Rain. Expect 30-40mm. Freezing level around 1800m. Tuesday: Rain turning to snow late in the day. 15-30mm and up to 5cm. Freezing level lowering to 1200m. Wednesday: Cloudy with a chance of flurries. Freezing level around 1000m.
Avalanche activity tapered off by Sunday with a short break in weather systems. This should be short lived as another strong frontal system is expected to hit the coast this evening. Expect a rapid rise in activity late Sunday and into Monday morning, followed by a rapid improvement in stability as the upper snowpack becomes fully saturated, followed by cooler temperatures. Loose wet avalanches remain a concern on Monday and Tuesday.
Terrain to Avoid:
Techniques to Manage Risk:
The North Shore Mountains received 80-100cm of new snow in the past week. Where was this earlier in the season?!? This new snow fell on a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects. Snowpack tests and a decrease in avalanche activity indicate that storm snow instabilities have gained strength in the past 24-48 hours. Isolated slab avalanches and loose wet-snow avalanches are likely as rain saturates the upper snowpack on Sunday night and Monday.
Prepared by Peter Marshall