Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 8 – 9, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Warm, wet and windy weather is expected to result in natural avalanche activity and increased danger.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Heavy snow at alpine elevations is expected to form dense storm slabs and overload existing weaknesses. Very strong southerly winds may also create deep wind slabs in Northwest-Northeast facing terrain well below ridge crests.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Watch for loose wet sluffs in steep open terrain and in gullies.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

On Tuesday freezing levels are expected to rise as high as 2500 m as a Pacific frontal system brings up to 50 mm of precipitation and extreme southwesterly alpine winds. Wednesday is looking just as warm, windy, and wet. At this point, Thursday is looking slightly drier and cooler with freezing levels dropping below 2000 m and another 10-20 mm of precipitation as alpine winds shift to moderate southeasterlies.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there at [email protected].

Snowpack Summary

Around 10-15 cm of moist then refrozen snow buried the previous variable snow surface that consisted of facets and large surface hoar in sheltered areas, or pockets of old wind slab and an ice crust in open wind-exposed terrain (depending on aspect). There are probably a couple notable crusts in the upper to mid snowpack. The deeper crust may be associated with a weak layer of facetted snow, but may be limited to slopes at and above treeline. One recent snowpack test on this layer in the northwest part of the region produced a sudden "pops" result down 80 cm on a north aspect at treeline. Snow pack depth and snow quality drastically diminishes as you drop below treeline.

Regions covered