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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 13th, 2020–Dec 14th, 2020

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

Regions

Sea To Sky.

Watch for wind loaded pockets of snow especially around ridge crests and roll-overs in the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: Trace to 5 cm of new snow, light southwest ridgetop wind freezing level 600 m.

Monday: Trace to 5 cm new snow, light southwest ridgetop wind, alpine high -6 C, freezing level 900 m.

Tuesday: 10-20 cm new snow, strong southwest ridgetop wind, alpine high -5 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday: 5-15 cm new snow, moderate southwest ridgetop wind, alpine high -4 C, freezing level 1200 m.

Watch Meteorologist David Jones' Whistler Powder Picker weather forecast here.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, small but stiff skier controlled size 1 wind slabs were reported running on the crust.

Solar triggered loose snow avalanches size 1-2 were reported on steep solar aspects in the alpine on Saturday. A size 1.5 natural cornice fall was also reported in this MIN from the Garabaldi area.

Have you been out and about in the mountains? If so please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). It doesn't have to be technical - photos are especially helpful! Thank you so much for all the great MINs submitted so far! 

Snowpack Summary

Brief strong southwest wind has formed soft wind slabs over a supportive crust in the alpine. In wind sheltered areas, a layer of surface hoar may be found shallowly buried within the 10-30 cm above the crust. Below 2000 m the crust may be somewhat punchy with a moist snowpack below. 

Snowpack depths change rapidly with elevation, with 0-50 cm below treeline to 150 cm in the alpine.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.

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.