Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2014 8:35AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

Conditions are variable across the region. Dig down and test weak layers. If you're headed to the Duffy, make sure you check the Sea-To-Sky and the Whistler/ Backcomb bulletins too.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunny with some clouds later in the day on Monday. The ridge will start to break down Tuesday, allowing a series of weak storm systems which will mostly be confined to the coast and traveling northward. Dribs and drabs of light snow accumulation is expected inland. Freezing levels will hover around 800 m and ridgetop winds will blow from the S-SW.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Submit your observations by clicking on the "Avalanche Information " tab at the top of the page.

Snowpack Summary

Conditions in the Coquihalla area are quite different to the Duffey region. Reports from the Coquihalla suggest there's less than 1 m of snow in most avalanche areas. There's a small amount of recent storm snow over a relatively simple, recently rain-soaked snowpack. With temperatures falling a new firm crust will develop. Around the Duffey, we have limited observations, but it's expected that wind slabs exist and that these may be overloading snowpack weaknesses formed in November (avalanches have been failing on these layers in the Whistler area). Below treeline the snowpack is likely be thin and have a sporty surface crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may be found on leeward slopes and behind terrain features. Rider triggers are possible, and if the slab fails on a deeply buried weak layer, a surprisingly large avalanche will initiate.
Dodge recently wind loaded features by sticking to ridge tops and ribs.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2014 2:00PM