Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Apr 7 – 8, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

A substantial amount of precipitation has fallen, with rain at lower elevations and snow at high elevations. Expect slabs where snow fell and loose, weak snow where rain fell.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Snowfall at higher elevations has formed new slabs. Observe for the bond of new snow with the old surface before committing into avalanche terrain.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    More rain early Sunday morning will continue to weaken the upper snowpack. Watch out in steep and gullied terrain, where small avalanches can build and have severe consequences.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with early-morning precipitation, accumulation 10 to 20 mm water equivalent, light westerly winds, treeline temperature 1 C, freezing level 1500 m.MONDAY: Mostly cloudy, light southerly winds, treeline temperature 1 C, freezing level 1500 m rising to 2200 m by the late afternoon.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with afternoon precipitation, accumulation 10 mm, treeline temperature 4 C, freezing level 2600 m dropping to 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday and Friday, it was easy to initiate large wet loose avalanche in steep terrain below treeline.  The avalanches were generally slow but ran far.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 to 80 mm of rain fell on the snowpack up to around treeline between Thursday and Saturday, with precipitation as snow above. In alpine terrain, the snow has created new storm slabs. This snow overlies a thick crust in most areas except for possibly shady aspects in alpine terrain. The snowpack below the crust is generally strong.At treeline and below treeline elevations, a spring snowpack exists. Rain saturated and weakened the upper snowpack.  The wet snow may freeze overnight at higher elevations with cool temperatures.  The mid and lower snowpack are strong.

Regions covered