Avalanche forecast

South Coast Inland

Apr 12 – 13, 2017Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Alpine Danger may be Considerable in localized areas that receive more than 20 cm of new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Shifting wind directions have created fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Recent snow and wind are growing already large cornices. Minimize your exposure to cornices when it is cold and cloudy and completely avoid them when it is warm and/or sunny.

Confidence

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

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Cloudy with 5-10 cm of new snow(10-15 on Coquihalla). Light to moderate Southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1200m.FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light Southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1200 m.SATURDAY: Sunny. Light southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1400m.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a size 1.5 cornice triggered avalanche was reported on a north aspect at 2200 m in the Duffey Lake area.

Snowpack Summary

The forecast snow and wind on Wednesday is expected to create fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain at treeline and above. On sun solar aspects and at lower elevations, numerous crusts exist in the upper snowpack which are generally well bonded. Cornices are large and remain a concern: Saturday's fatal accident near Lions Bay illustrates the danger of them breaking off, and the large avalanches they can trigger. 

Regions covered