Avalanche Forecast

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

The ridge of high pressure over the BC interior will weaken on Wednesday morning as a Pacific frontal system pushes eastward spreading snow to the coastal ranges.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-3 cm, 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds, low alpine temperature -4 C with freezing level at 1300 m.

WEDNESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1-3 cm, 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds, high alpine temperature -3 C with freezing level at 1300 m. 

THURSDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm, 50-60 km/h southwesterly winds, high alpine temperature -3 C with freezing level at 1500 m.

FRIDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, 20-30 km/h northwesterly winds, high alpine temperature +3 C with freezing level at 2300 m.

No new avalanche activity have been reported over the last few days.

New snow combined to moderate to strong southwest winds continue to develop wind slabs on north throught east facing slopes in the alpine and upper treeline. Temperatures have cooled off to below zero at treeline forming a melt freeze crust. Moist snow is still found at the surface at lower elevations.

Two buried weak layers of sugary, faceted grains sit in the middle and lower snowpack, around 50cm deep and 80-200 cm deep. Early Decembers heavy rain and following cold spell formed the deeper layer of facets, that is now most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. With cooler temperatures, the probability of triggering an avalanche on this layer is low but will increase when freezing levels rise up again. The most likely place to trigger it would be in thin, rocky snowpack areas.

The lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.