Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 6 – 7, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Dial back your terrain choices when the snow gets moist or mushy and avoid cliffs, gullies, and steep slopes with trees.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Slab avalanches are possible in steep and/or exposed terrain at the highest elevations. Be careful around broad open slopes and steep terrain, especially where you can feel a buried crust with your ski pole.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Conditions will be more like spring than winter this week. Surface snow layers will weaken when hit by the sun. Minimize your exposure to terrain traps - even small sluffs can push you into dangerous terrain.

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Sunny, light wind, freezing level up to 3400 m.FRIDAY: Sunny, light wind, freezing level around 3000 m.SATURDAY: Increasing cloud, moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 2700 m.

Avalanche Summary

Several small wet loose avalanches have been reported in steep terrain with the warming temperatures over the past few days. On Sunday, a size 1.5 natural wind slab avalanche was reported on a north-facing slope at 1500 m near Sky Pilot Mountain.

Snowpack Summary

Warm weather is melting the snow surface all the way to the top of the highest mountains. Crusts may form overnight, but will melt quickly in the morning. The 80-100 cm of storm snow that fell last week is rapidly settling and bonding to a buried crust. Travel has improved below treeline, but there are still open creeks, alder, and other early season hazards. Expect snow depths around 200 cm at 1200 m and 60 cm at 800 m.

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