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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 29th, 2024–Dec 30th, 2024

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

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Seek out low-angle, sheltered terrain.

Uncertainty exists over buried weak layers, wind slabs could step down producing very large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday evidence of natural avalanche activity was observed to size 2, along with rider triggered avalanches to size 1.

On Thursday and Friday size 3 avalanches ran on north facing slopes, stepping down to the crust buried 100–150 cm deep. Uncertainty exists over the reactivity of this layer moving forward.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow from the past 10 days has reached around 100 cm with wind affect at higher elevations. This sits over a crust from mid December which exists to around 2000 m.

Another crust is buried 90 to 160 cm deep, with a layer of surface hoar also found in wind sheltered terrain (most likely preserved at treeline). While this layer has produced large avalanches recently, now triggering is thought to be most likely through large loads (like a cornice fall) or a smaller avalanche stepping down.

At lower elevations surface snow is likely moist, or refrozen into a thick crust. For an update about local snow conditions check out this blog from Dec 26th.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

MondayA mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.