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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
South Coast.
Warm, wet and windy! The South Coast got hammered by a big storm. New snow, rain and strong winds will mean that the snowpack is primed for avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT - Wet flurries, 20-25 cm / southwest winds, 30-50 km/h / alpine low temperature near 0 / freezing level 1200 mWEDNESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / northwest winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near +3 / Freezing level 1700 mTHURSDAY - Mainly cloudy / northwest winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near 0 / freezing level 1200 m / alpine temperature inversionFRIDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / northwest winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near +1 / freezing level 1200 m / possible alpine temperature inversion
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle is expected on Tuesday night and throughout the day on Wednesday.There have been no recent reports of avalanches in the South Coast region.Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.
Snowpack Summary
30-50 cm of new snow mixed with rain has fallen over the South Coast region between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning. This new snow likely sits on a melt freeze crust at treeline. Below treeline the new snow is likely moist to wet depending on how much rain fell during Tuesday night's storm. At upper elevations, where the recent precipitation fell as snow, over 130 cm has accumulated since the stormy weather began last week. At upper elevations in the north of the region near Squamish, there may be a weak layer of surface hoar (feathery crystals) buried approximately 80-100 cm. Information on the strength and distribution of this layer is very limited.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
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.