Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 5 – 6, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

With a forecast of fresh snow falling with strong winds, expect to find an increasingly reactive snowpack and avalanche hazard highest at the end of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Upwards of 40 cm of fresh snow is forecast to accumulate throughout Friday, falling with strong winds. Expect slabs to become more reactive by the end of the day. At lower elevations, the snowpack may be below the threshold for avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Be cautious at lower elevations where rain or wet snow falls on old snow instead of bare ground. This may not end up being much of a problem if the freezing level is as low as forecasted.

Confidence

High

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow by Friday morning above 1000 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3 °C.

Friday

Snowing. 20-40 cm of snow accumulating in the mountains by 4 pm. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. Up to 80 mm of precipitation in 48 hrs (falling as snow and ending early morning). Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and clouds. no precipitation. Light west ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Regions covered