Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Dec 10 – 11, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

A series of storms will bring lots of snow and wind to the region, creating very dangerous avalanche conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    Natural and human triggered avalanches will be very likely at higher elevations during the storm on Tuesday. Snow is also starting to accumulate at lower elevations.

Confidence

High - on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Intense snowfall with accumulations of 20-40 cm, strong to extreme wind out of the south, and freezing level climbing to 1000 m.TUESDAY: Another 10-20 cm of snow during the day, strong wind out of the southwest, and freezing level climbing to 1200 m in the morning and then dropping throughout the day.WEDNESDAY: Lingering flurries bring another 5-10 cm of snow before another storm arrives Wednesday night, strong wind out of the west, freezing level dropping to 700 m.THURSDAY: The next storm brings 15-30 cm of snow, strong wind out of the west, and freezing level around 500 m.

Avalanche Summary

While we don't have recent reports, natural storm slab avalanche activity is likely during the barrage of storms hitting the coast.

Snowpack Summary

Another 30-50 cm of new snow by the end of Tuesday will bring the total from the past few days up to to 40-80 cm. Extreme wind will likely form even thicker deposits at high elevations. The new snow will likely bond poorly to the weak surface hoar and facets that have been sitting on the surface for the past week, especially on sheltered slopes at treeline. Deeper in the snowpack, there are reports of several crusts including an early season crust with facets near the bottom of the snowpack.Prior to the storms, there was only 70-120 cm of snow in the alpine and very little coverage below treeline, but this is finally changing.

Regions covered