Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 2, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Watch for wind slabs on southerly aspects

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Fresh wind slabs are forming on mainly south to west aspects behind exposed terrain features. Slabs found on south aspect slopes could become more unstable when the sun is out.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY: Dry and sunny. Winds northeasterly 20-30 km/h at ridgetop. Ridgetop temperatures around -15C. TUESDAY: Dry and sunny. Winds northeasterly 20-30 km/h. Temperatures around -16C. WEDNESDAY: Dry and sunny. Winds northeasterly 40-60 km/h. Temperatures around -12C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

Right now, the most important part of the snowpack analysis is figuring out how the wind is redistributing snow into wind slabs. New wind slabs are most likely to be found on south to east aspects behind exposed terrain features, and could be touchy, especially on steep unsupported terrain. The previous metre or so of storm snow has bonded well to the underlying snow. A thin freezing rain crust buried under 10 cm of new snow was reported from the North Shore mountains, but I suspect the only impact this will have will be on skiing quality. Wind slabs aside, the snowpack is otherwise considered to be well settled and stable.

Regions covered