Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 29th, 2016 4:16PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

cam_c, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

There is low confidence in this forecast due to limited observations. As always, and especially when confidence is low, it is essential to supplement this information with your own observations. And don't forget to post them to the MIN!

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Another 5-10 cm of snow is expected overnight Tuesday throughout Wednesday with moderate to strong southwesterly alpine winds and daytime high freezing levels reaching 900 m. Thursday should be relatively dry with snow starting overnight and continuing throughout Friday resulting in another 5-15 cm of accumulation with strong southwest alpine winds and freezing levels rising as high as 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports from the alpine. Duffey Lake highways patrol recorded numerous size 2.0 and one size 3.0 storm slab avalanches on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Treeline snowpack depths are around 140 cm in the Duffey Lake area, but only around 60 cm in Coquihalla Pass. Slopes that were loaded by southwest winds during recent storms may have likely developed deep pockets of weak wind slabs. A thick crust can likely be found in the mid-pack down 50-70 cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine. Buried surface hoar has also been reported in the early season snowpack.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Although settling and strengthening rapidly, forecast snow and wind is expected to keep storm slabs fresh and touchy. Watch for particularly deep and weak wind slabs on the downwind side of ridge crests at terrain features in exposed terrain.

Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Nov 30th, 2016 2:00PM