Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Dec 9, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 8 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Snowfall accumulation will increase through the day. If totals exceed 25cm, avalanche hazard will be HIGH.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    As freezing levels drop around noon, snowfall will accumulate and storm slabs will develop. This new snow is not expected to bond well with the old snow surface and by late afternoon, natural avalanches are possible.

Avalanche Summary

A week ago (Saturday, Dec 1), two very large (size 3) avalanches were observed in the Joffre Lakes area. These avalanches released from the high alpine northeast and northwest faces of Mt. Joffre and Mt. Matier, respectively. The evidence of the Mt. Matier slide features several 'step downs' as the slide progressively triggered deeper layers of the snowpack, all the way down to previous summer snow cover. Both slides likely released during the previous storm. And a similar, large avalanche was also reported on Face mountain in the Hurley Pass area.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Accumulation: trace / Alpine temperature: Low -3C / Light south ridge wind / Freezing level 1100mSUNDAY: Snow / Accumulation: 10-30 cm / Alpine temperature: High 0C / Moderate south ridge wind / Freezing level up to 1700mMONDAY: Isolated flurries / Accumulation: up to 10 cm / Alpine temperature: High -4C / Light to moderate southwest ridge wind / Freezing level 1100mTUESDAY: Flurries / Accumulation: 5-20 cm / Alpine temperature: High -4C / Light southwest ridge wind / Freezing level 1000m

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, snowpack depths are around 120-180 cm near the Duffey, with snowpack depths lower as you move south through the region. A variable surface consisting of a thin sun crust in solar terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and pockets of wind slab in lee features, overlies an upper snowpack of 10-25 cm of low density faceted snow. New snow is not expected to bond well with this surface layer. At bottom of the snowpack, a crust buried at the beginning of November is unreactive to snowpack tests. This layer is most prevalent in the north of the region and looks to be breaking down at higher elevations. Snowpack depths disappear quickly with decreasing elevation and are making for generally rugged travel conditions throughout the region.

Regions covered