Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 2 – 3, 2014Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Fresh touchy wind slabs could be lurking below ridge crests and behind terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Primarily in the northern part of the region and shallow snowpack areas. Persistent weaknesses may be particularly touchy where there is an associated crust.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries possible in the morning, moderate NW winds and freezing levels dropping to 800m. Saturday and Sunday: Mostly sunny and dry with light W alpine winds and freezing levels around 900m.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were reported on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is expected to be poorly bonded, especially on wind-loaded slopes. Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 165cm at treeline in the Cascades but only about 65cm in the Duffey Lake area, and terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity. In general the snowpack is shallow with a faceted and weak lower half, but also highly variable. Snowpack testing on a SSE facing slope at 2000m in the Duffey Lake area on Monday produced easy to moderate, sudden collapse compression test results, and a RB3, whole block release Rutschblock result down 20cm on the mid-December surface hoar, as well as moderate sudden planar and RB1 results down 46cm on the late-November facets where they were found above a hard crust. However, these weak interfaces appear generally well bonded in the Cascades.Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations and below.

Regions covered