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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2024–Dec 4th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart.

Heavy loading from recent snow and rain will leave dense, wet storm slabs primed for rider triggering on Wednesday. Stick to low angle terrain and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle was reported throughout the region on Monday. Storm slabs were observed at all elevations to size 2.

Please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

After Tuesday night, the upper snowpack has been soaked by rain at most elevations. On peaks above 2200 m, 50 to 80 cm of recent storm snow may have escaped the rain and instead been redistributed by strong southwest wind.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong, with various hard layers and crusts.

Weather Summary

Wednesday will bring a short lived reprieve amid the series of frontal systems bringing wet precipitation to the region. After Wednesday, precipitation will resume but freezing levels will begin to gradually drop.

Tuesday Night

Moderate rain up to ~2200 m, 5 to 15 cm of snow on the highest peaks. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level between 2200 and 2500m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with light rain below ~2000 m, 5 cm of snow above. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level between 2000 and 2300 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with light rain overnight turning to snow flurries above ~1500 m. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level between 1400 and 1700 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above ~1400 m. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level between 1200 and 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
  • Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Storms slabs have been reactive at all elevations.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.