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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 10th, 2024–Dec 11th, 2024

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

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead.

Warm temperatures are increasing the chance of avalanches. Monitor the conditions and back off slopes as the surface becomes wet.

Reactive wind slabs may exist in high elevation terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a small skier triggered (size 1) wind slab was reported. Over the weekend, explosive and skier controlled storm slabs were reported up to size 2. Small (less than size 1) wet loose avalanches were also seen from steep south facing terrain.

If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Surface hoar development exists in wind and sun sheltered, open terrain. At treeline and above, moist snow surfaces are seen on slopes facing the sun.

Above 1800 m, 20 to 40 cm of snow from last weekend sits above a thin crust. Below the crust there are no layers of concern in the well-settled snowpack.

Below 1800 m, there may be 10-20 cm of snow overtop a thicker crust capping a rain-soaked snowpack.

Snow depths at treeline are around 100 cm near Whistler, and 70 cm in the Duffy.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with clear periods. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m with a weak temperature inversion.

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny periods. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Snow 5 to 15 cm. 15 km/h south ridgetop winds gusting to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

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.