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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 16th, 2022–Dec 17th, 2022
Alpine
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
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

Regions: North Shore, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, South Coast.

The crust created by Friday's warming will be an ideal sliding surface for avalanches once new snow arrives Saturday afternoon, expect small but reactive slabs to form late in the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days. We expect wind slabs to be possible to trigger as they develop over Saturday and Sunday.

If you head out into the mountains, please share your photos or observations on the Mountain Information Network. Your information helps us understand local conditions!

Snowpack Summary

Recent warm temperatures have likely created a widespread surface crust to ridgetop. Surface hoar may form on the crust in shaded and sheltered locations.

50-70 cm of recent snow is settling, sitting over crusts on sun affected slopes, and surface hoar in shaded areas. The mid and lower snowpack consists of layers of well bonded snow and melt freeze crusts.

At 1000 m the snowpack depth is around 150 cm. In many areas, below treeline elevations are still below the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Increasing cloud with strong northwest winds and isolated flurries possible. Freezing level drops to valley bottom.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries bringing up to 4 cm. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Freezing level around 300 m. Moderate to strong northwest winds.

Sunday

5-15 cm possible overnight, heaviest in the east. A mostly cloudy with light westerly winds. Freezing level below valley bottom, alpine high of -5°C. Another 5 cm of snow possible over the day.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with moderate westerly winds. Freezing level remains below valley bottom, expect an alpine high of -8°C. Isolated flurries.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow combined with northwest winds provides fresh potential for reactive wind slabs to build. Wind loading will sit over a crust.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5