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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 1st, 2018–Dec 2nd, 2018

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland.

Rugged travel conditions dominate lower elevations while lingering wind slab and cornice problems show that winter is on in the alpine.

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Mainly cloudy with clear periods. Light northeast winds.Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures of -9.Monday: Mainly sunny. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures of -11.Tuesday: Mainly sunny. Light north winds. Alpine high temperatures rising to -4 as a temperature inversion establishes.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.

Snowpack Summary

The storm from early last week produced ample precipitation, however it mostly fell as rain. Extreme out of the south and southwest likely produced widespread cornices and wind slabs in lee terrain during the storm.A MIN from Friday suggests that it's skiable from about 1600 metres on up. Between 1600 and 2000 m there is 5 to 10 cm of low density snow over a 5 cm breakable crust. Above 2000m is reportedly skiing well and alpine snowpack depths are approaching 175 cm. Near the ground there is a crust/facet interface, but little is known about the reactivity of this layer. It is thought that there is insufficient snow for avalanches below 1500 m.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.