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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 5th, 2020–Dec 6th, 2020

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

Regions

South Coast.

A warm and wet storm is headed for the Coast Mountains. Avalanche hazard will increase late Sunday into Monday with the incoming rain, wind, and warm temperatures.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature 0 / Freezing level 2000 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with showers; 5-10 mm / Moderate, gusty southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +3 / Freezing level 2000 m.

MONDAY: Rain; 35-50 mm / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +4 / Freezing level rising to 3000 m.

TUESDAY: Rain; 15-30 mm / Strong, gusty southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +5 / Freezing level 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday or Friday. However, glide cracks did start to open up on the North Shore Mountains.

Last Wednesday, numerous slab avalanches and loose wet avalanches were reported at treeline elevations and associated with the rapid warming. An older and larger natural avalanche cycle up to size 3.5 (from last week's storm) was also reported from alpine and treeline elevations. 

Have you been out and about in the mountains? If so please submit to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). It doesn't have to be technical it can be as simple as a photo. Photos are especially helpful! Sending out a big thank you to the already submitted MIN's this season. Thanks everyone!

Snowpack Summary

Recent sun and very warm alpine temperatures have had the greatest impact on the snowpack. Melt-freeze conditions exist on most aspects. Dry, wind-affected snow may prevail in polar terrain in the high alpine. Expect the snowpack to soften quickly with forecasted rain and warm temperatures.

Snowpack depth rapidly changes with elevation and the snow line currently sits at around 900 m. Its near 100 cm around 1000 m between 150 to 200 cm near the mountain tops.

Terrain and Travel

  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, it is raining, or solar radiation is strong.
  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from rain.

Problems

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.