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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 6th, 2024–Dec 7th, 2024

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, South Coast Inland, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Birkenhead, Duffey, Harrison-Fraser, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity has been reported. We expect to see natural storm slab avalanche activity during the storm at elevations where snow accumulation is significant.

If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider reporting your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Heavy, wet snow accumulates at upper elevations. Any old surface layers such as facets, surface hoar or thin crusts have likely been neutralized by the warm, wet start to this storm. Below 1100 m, rain soaks an already moist upper snowpack.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.

Snow depths at treeline vary across the region. Currently, 100 cm is reported near Whistler and 65 cm near Blowdown Mountain. For more detail on snowpack conditions across the region see Zenith Guides' snow conditions report.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

15 to 40 cm of heavy, wet snow above 1200 m. In areas near to the coast, some of this could fall as rain initially. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level dropping from 2000 m to 1600 m.

Saturday

5 to 25 cm of snow above 1300 m. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level dropping from 1900 m to 1200 m.

Sunday

10 to 20 cm of snow overnight then clearing to a mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level 700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.