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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 8th, 2020–Dec 9th, 2020

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

Regions

South Coast.

The snowpack will cool and freeze as temperatures drop.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY NIGHT: Rain tapering, 10 mm / Strong decreasing to moderate, west-southwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature +1 / Freezing level dropping to 1500 m

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +2 / Freezing level 1300 m

THURSDAY: Cloudy / Light, gusty southeast ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +1 / Freezing level 1300 m

FRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries, 5 cm / Light, gusty southeast ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -2 / Freezing level 800 m

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent avalanche reports in the region.

The last avalanche observations are from Wednesday Dec 2 when numerous slab and loose wet avalanches were reported at treeline elevations and associated with rapid warming. Then, on Thursday, several glide cracks opened up on the North Shore Mountains.

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

By Tuesday morning, over 50 mm rain fell on the North Shore Mountains and saturated the snowpack at all elevations, this will cool and freeze as temperatures drop.

Snowpack depth changes quickly with elevation. Prior to the storm, depths ranged from 100 cm in the trees up to 150-200 cm near mountain tops.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.