Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Seasonal temperatures and isolated flurries through the weekend. Significant alpine warming Tuesday onwards. SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light - moderate southwesterly winds / Freezing level around 900 m. MONDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, warming significantly with highs to +5 Celsius / Moderate southeasterly winds / Freezing level around 1500 m. TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy / High temperatures to +4 Celsius / Light-moderate southwesterly winds/ Freezing level around 2500 m.

A widespread natural avalanche cycle (to Size 2.5) occurred on all aspects and elevations at treeline and above from Thursday into Friday. Spooky conditions with shooting cracks and whoompfing were reported in a great MIN post (see here for details) on Saturday afternoon on Nak Peak (Coquihalla area). Conservative terrain use is essential under these conditions.

An additional 20 + cm of snow fell Friday into Saturday on the Coquihalla with moderate to strong southwest winds; meanwhile, only 4cm fell in the Duffey Lake zone. This new snow added to the 65-80 cm (lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow. Temperatures rose on Thursday afternoon, increasing the likelihood slab avalanches with the heavier snow on top of lighter, drier snow. All this storm snow is sitting on a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind affected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-December facets down 130-160 cm still remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas in the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring, especially through periods of rapid loading. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled (stronger), than it is to the north.