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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 17th, 2014–Dec 18th, 2014
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Avalanche danger trending up over the next few days due to another warm storm moving in from the Southwest.

Confidence

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Cloudy overnight with moderate Southeast winds and a chance of flurries. Snow developing during the day Thursday as a Low pressure system moves onto the coast. Expect strong Southerly winds, 5-15 cm of snow by Friday morning and freezing levels remaining close to valley bottoms. Strong Southwest winds and 5-10 cm of snow during the day on Friday. Freezing levels are forecast to start to rise overnight as warm moist air continues to move in from the Southwest. Freezing levels may get as high as 1500 metres by Saturday afternoon combined with 20-30 cm of new snow and very strong Southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives triggered windslabs up to size 2.0 in the Northwest of the region.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of new snow overlies a variety of surfaces which include wind slabs in alpine terrain, hard rain crusts at lower elevations and weak surface hoar crystals. Last week's heavy rain affected southern parts of the region up to alpine elevations, while the far north remained drier and sports a weaker snowpack in general. Areas which previously received rain have probably now formed a hard frozen crust. Upper elevation terrain and far northern areas are likely to have wind slabs and large fragile cornices. Deeper in the snowpack, weaknesses such as the mid-November crust-facet layer still exist. Avalanches at this interface have become unlikely, although the consequences of a release remain high. This layer may be more sensitive to triggering in steep, unsupported high alpine terrain, or in the far north of the region.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are likely to exist on a variety of aspects and rider triggering is possible in the lee of ridges and terrain breaks.
Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2