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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 1st, 2011–Dec 2nd, 2011
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Danger ratings remain elevated due to continued snowfall and very strong winds on Thursday.

Confidence

Poor - Due to limited field observations

Weather Forecast

Conditions will gradually start to dry out on Friday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the province. Winds should ease to moderate from the NW on Friday morning and remain in the light to moderate range throughout the weekend. A mix of sun and cloud is expected on Saturday. Sunday should be mainly cloudy with a chance of flurries. The freezing level should hover around 600-800m throughout the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche control work along the northern highway corridors have produced results up to Size 3, mainly involving the recent storm snow. I suspect a natural avalanche cycle is likely late Thursday and into Friday in response to the forecast cranking winds and 15-30cm of snow.

Snowpack Summary

Very strong SW-NW winds may wreak havoc on the snowpack creating scoured areas and soft or hard wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and cross-loaded gullies or terrain features. Coastal areas are reporting a very deep and strong snowpack - at or near record levels for this time of year. A buried surface hoar layer may be found down 100-150cm near Terrace, but there is no recent information on the presence and sensitivity of this layer.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard and soft wind slabs are likely in exposed terrain on a variety of aspects well into treeline.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 5

Storm Slabs

Storm snow instabilities may be triggered by a skier or snowmobile, or by additional loading from snow or wind.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 5