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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2022–Dec 25th, 2022

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

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot.

Ongoing precipitation and warm temperatures will keep the avalanche hazard elevated.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Reports document a reactive slab had formed by Friday evening near Squamish, this MIN documents natural avalanches out of steep terrain.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Rain has saturated the snowpack at most elevations, expect to find wet and unconsolidated snow until cold temperatures refreeze the snowpack.

Prior to this weekend's rain event, the snowpack was well settled with treeline depths 100-180 cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Rain showers, 10 mm. Ridgetop low temperature +2 C. Southwest wind 30-50 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Rain, 10-30 mm. Ridgetop high temperature +4 C. Southwest wind 40-60 km/hr. Freezing level spiking above 2300 m.

Monday

Heavy rain, 50-80 mm. Ridgetop high temperature +6 C. Southwest wind 30-60 km/hr. Freezing level 2300 m.

Tuesday

Rain, 45 mm. Ridgetop low temperature +2 C. Southwest wind 30-40 gusting to 70 km/hr. Freezing level 1500 m and beginning to fall.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from rain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Avoid exposure to areas with overhead hazard during periods of 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.