Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 8th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada istorm, Avalanche Canada

Email

The snowpack will take time to gain strength. Unless you have professional level training and experience avoid avalanche terrain near treeline or higher elevations in the North Shore Mountains where the heaviest snowfall amounts are expected.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported; however, with intense snowfall at times a natural avalanche cycle overnight and Thursday was likely.

Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack: up to 50 cm of recent snow.Mid-pack: a softer, weaker layer of less cohesive snow around 80 cm down should be gaining strength as it squishes. Lower-pack: Further down in the snowpack, there are reports of a thick melt-freeze crust and increasing strength.

At 1000 m the snowpack depth is around 130 cm. Lower treeline and below treeline elevation are still below the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday NightContinued precipitation with 15 mm / cm expected overnight. Storm totals by morning of ~ 60 mm water equivalent which means around ~50 cm at high elevations. Snow level ~300 m. Ridge temperatures around -3. Moderate southwest wind.

FridaySnow ending late in the day with up to 10 cm accumulating. Snow level steady around 300 m. Ridge temperatures as cold as -5 C. Light to moderate southwest wind.

Saturday

Another storm forecast to bring around 30 to maybe 40 mm precipitation. Moderate southerly wind. Snow level rising to ~500m. Ridge top temperatures -2 to -5 C.

Sunday

Overcast but dry. Snow level ~500m. Temperatures aas cold as -5 C near the ridges and peaks.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Wind loaded slopes will be the most sensitive and dangerous, but many steep slopes will be suspect, even without any wind affect, especially during times of intense snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 9th, 2022 4:00PM