Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 4 – 5, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Recent storm snow and strong winds have created pockets of wind slab in the alpine and at treeline. Wind slabs may be sitting above weak shallow snowpacks.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Weak layers of buried surface hoar, crusts, and depth hoar may continue to be triggered by light additional loads like skiers and riders. Wind slabs above these weak layers may step down resulting in larger and more dangerous avalanches.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with an area of warm air moving into alpine elevations. Above freezing temperatures are expected in the Alpine.Monday: Continued warm air at higher elevations with light to moderate Southwest winds and no precipitation.Tuesday: Cloudy with light to moderate Southwest winds and seasonal temperatures in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Natural loose snow and storm snow avalanches size 1.0-1.5 were reported from steep South aspects in the alpine and at treeline in the Duffey Lake area. Natural avalanches size 1.0-1.5 from steep wind loaded pockets at ridgeline were reported from the Coquihalla, as well as several size 2.0-2.5 storm slab avalanches from the steep North aspect of Mount Cheam.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is expected to be poorly bonded, especially on wind-loaded slopes. Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 180cm at treeline in the Cascades but only about 80cm 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 NW facing slope at 2150m in the Duffey Lake area on Thursday produced easy sudden planar compression test results, and a RB2, whole block release Rutschblock result down 27cm on the late-December surface hoar, this layer now has an additional 15-25 cms since the Thursday evening storm. Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations and below.

Regions covered