Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2018 5:08PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet.

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Avalanche danger is expected to remain low for the North Shore mountains, but wet avalanches may still be problematic in the higher elevation alpine terrain of the Squamish area.

Summary

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A wet weekend is in store for the South Coast. The freezing level is expected to fluctuate through the weekend, look for rain transitioning to snow mid-day Saturday. On Monday the freezing level may creep above the mountains of the South Coast. Stay tuned for more details. FRIDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 2000 m, 15 to 20 mm of precipitation expected, moderate southwest wind.SATURDAY: Clearing skis, freezing level beginning near 1800 m lowering to 1000 m around lunch time, light to moderate west/southwest wind, 7 to 10 mm of precipitation expected.SUNDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 1000 m, light to moderate southeast wind, 8 to 12 mm of precipitation expected.MONDAY: Overcast, freezing level beginning around 1100 m rising to about 1400 m in the afternoon, light to moderate southeast wind, 15 to 25 mm of precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been reported.

Snowpack Summary

On Friday January 5th the rain began to fall in earnest. As of 17:00 on Friday evening the Strachan Precip Station at 1220 m had recorded 53 mm of total rain fall. This rain has saturated the entire snowpack on all but the highest elevation slopes. 50 to 100 cm below the surface there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December. Snowpack investigation Friday afternoon revealed rain is not pooling at these crusts with any significance.The rain has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000 m to about 140 cm and many early season hazards are still present at lower elevations.

Problems

Loose Wet

Up to 50 mm of rain has saturated the entire snowpack of the North Shore mountains. The same is likely true of higher elevation terrain in the Squamish area, but very isolated pockets of wet avalanches may remain problematic there.

Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of rain.Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy rain.

Aspects: North.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2018 2:00PM