Tantalus

Winter conditions now exist in the mountains. Gear up with a transceiver, shovel, and probe, and factor avalanches into your trip planning. A preliminary snowpack description has been added to this forecast. The first official avalanche forecasts of the season will be issued November 25 at 4 PM PST

November 7 Update:

Moderate to strong northeast winds have been redistributing a variable 10-40 cm of new snow from the weekend. Widespread wind effect and newly formed wind slabs likely exist in the alpine and more exposed mid and lower elevations. Below the wind effect and recent snow, a 3 cm melt-freeze or rain crust may be found on all aspects and elevations, tapering in thickness and supportiveness toward the alpine. The bond of the new snow to this crust is a primary concern, especially where wind slabs have formed.

In lower elevation, directly coastal areas like the North Shore, the surface itself is likely rain-wetted or glazed by a newly formed crust, either of which will prevent wind transport.

Total snowpack depths are approaching 2 m in alpine areas in deeper snowpack areas toward the south of the Sea to Sky highway; closer to half this amount around the Coquihalla and Duffey; and still less, 30-60 cm, on the North Shore and Vancouver Island. Depths everywhere taper rapidly below about 1200 metres.

See the Mountain Weather Forecast to help you plan your early winter trips.