Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 28 – 29, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Avalanches are possible on slopes with wet or wind-affected snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    New snow and wind could form reactive slabs on lee terrain features.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Rain could destabilize surface snow at treeline elevations and produce small wet loose avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported. Recent snow, rain, and wind may have caused isolated wind slab and wet loose avalanches in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels should favour snow accumulation at treeline and above on Thursday, with anywhere from 10 to 40 cm possible. This snow should bond well to the warm and moist snow beneath. Total snow depths at ski hills and remote stations are 60 to 80 cm, with closer to 100 cm possible at treeline. Many areas are below the threshold depth for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow above 1300 m (rain below), alpine wind south 60 to 90 km/h, treeline temperature near 0 °C, with freezing level dropping to 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow above 1300 m (rain below), alpine wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C, freezing level climbing to 1700 m in the afternoon.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny breaks and no precipitation, alpine wind southeast 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature around +5 °C with freezing level climbing to 2500 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 8 cm of snow above 1500 m, alpine wind south 40 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °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.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.

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