Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 11th, 2017 8:33PM

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

VIAC Dan Goodwin, VIAC

Summary

Confidence

High - Continued stable weather pattern.

Travel/Terrain Advice

Spring-like conditions continue to persist. Assess sunny slopes especially once the snow becomes moist or wet. Small loose wet avalanches have the potential for high consequences when travelling above cliffs or terrain traps. Watch for early season hazards such as exposed creeks, stumps, and tree wells especially below treeline.

Past Weather

Vancouver Island has seen a very stable weather pattern with little to no precipitation, light to moderate SE through SW winds and temperatures ranging from -5oC to +11oC. Freezing levels have been above the highest of the peaks on the Island for the majority of the time.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed over the weekend. Skiing on steep unsupported features did not produce any result.

Snowpack Description

Surface - Thin unsupportive sun crust on solar aspects at all elevation in the morning, becoming moist quickly. In shaded areas snow remains cold. Upper - Well settled and bonding well to rain crusts that were formed and buried in November. Mid - Well settled crust complex. Lower - Well settled.

Weather Forecast

A short lived weak disturbance in the entrenched ridge of high pressure Tuesday and Wednesday will produce increased cloud cover and minimal precipitation, likely in the form of rain or wet flurries. Temperatures and freezing levels will remain high and winds will be light from southerly directions to calm. Continued temperature inversion with low level clouds and fog near the ocean. Mon - A trace of precipitation. Winds light to moderate SE Freezing levels of 1800-3800 m Tue - 0-3 mm of precipitation. Winds light to moderate SW Freezing levels of 1450-2500 m Wed - A trace of precipitation. Winds light variable to calm Freezing levels of 570-3600 m

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Small loose wet avalanches are possible on steep sunny slopes in the alpine and treeline elevations, particularly in the afternoon.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2017 6:00PM

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