Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 3rd, 2018 4:27PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet and Cornices.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Change is in the air with forecast warming and sunshine set to promote surface instabilities on Tuesday.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Clear skies. Light northeast winds.Tuesday: Sunny with some low cloud. Light northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures increasing to around 0 as freezing levels rise to 1500 metres, increasing overnight.Wednesday: Sunny. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around +3 with freezing levels reaching 2200 metres.Thursday: Sunny with scattered cloud. Light northeast winds. Alpine temperatures around +2 with freezing levels still hovering near 2200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.

Snowpack Summary

The warm storm early last week produced over 200 mm of precipitation that mostly fell as rain. This rain washed away much of the snowpack at lower elevations. The highest alpine terrain in the region more likely received heavy snowfall during the storm. This snowfall, paired with extreme winds out of the south/southwest is likely to have produced cornice growth along many ridgelines.Alpine areas near Squamish have the most snow, with around 70 cm of settled snow on the ground. In these areas there may be a crust lower in the snowpack, however it is likely now well bonded to the overlying storm snow. It is thought that there is insufficient snow for avalanches below 1500 m.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Rising temperatures and strong sunshine will destabillize surface snow and promote loose wet avalanche activity on sun-exposed slopes on Tuesday. Loose wet slides may occur naturally or with a human trigger.
Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.Be aware that low-angle December sun tends to focus radiation on steeper slopes.

Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Cornices have likely formed along many alpine ridgelines. These can fail under the weight of a person or group. Cornices weaken under the influence of sunshine and warm temperatures.
Stay well back from cornices when traveling on ridgelines.Be wary of traveling on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 4th, 2018 2:00PM

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