Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 5th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Our limited field data suggests a natural avalanche cycle occurred in the past few days as rain and warm temperatures infiltrated the region. Slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported in the Smithers and Seaton areas.
If you head to the backcountry please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
New snow accumulates atop a moist, and in some places isothermal, snowpack from rain in the past few days. Strong winds will create heavily wind-affected surfaces and redistribute new snow into fresh wind slabs.
We'll need to reassess whether two surface hoar layers in the mid-snowpack have survived or been cleaned out by the rain.
Deeper in the snowpack, a rain crust from early November seems to be bonding well to the surrounding snow.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with up to 5 mm of precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridge top wind. Freezing level drops to 1600 m. Treeline temperature 0 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridge top wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and wind may form fresh, reactive wind slabs in lee areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are possible on steep slopes in areas where rain and warm temperatures have weakened the snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 6th, 2024 4:00PM
