Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 14 – 15, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Conditions are variable across the region. Dig down and test weak layers. If you're headed to the Duffy, make sure you check the Sea-To-Sky and the Whistler/ Backcomb bulletins too.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Wind slabs may be found on leeward slopes and behind terrain features. Rider triggers are possible, and if the slab fails on a deeply buried weak layer, a surprisingly large avalanche will initiate.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunny with some clouds later in the day on Monday. The ridge will start to break down Tuesday, allowing a series of weak storm systems which will mostly be confined to the coast and traveling northward. Dribs and drabs of light snow accumulation is expected inland. Freezing levels will hover around 800 m and ridgetop winds will blow from the S-SW.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Submit your observations by clicking on the "Avalanche Information " tab at the top of the page.

Snowpack Summary

Conditions in the Coquihalla area are quite different to the Duffey region. Reports from the Coquihalla suggest there's less than 1 m of snow in most avalanche areas. There's a small amount of recent storm snow over a relatively simple, recently rain-soaked snowpack. With temperatures falling a new firm crust will develop. Around the Duffey, we have limited observations, but it's expected that wind slabs exist and that these may be overloading snowpack weaknesses formed in November (avalanches have been failing on these layers in the Whistler area). Below treeline the snowpack is likely be thin and have a sporty surface crust.

Regions covered