Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Jan 4 – 5, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanches are most likely where more than 20 cm of new snow falls on terrain that has been smoothed out by preserved snow.

Challenging travel conditions exist at treeline and below.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Likely most reactive in high treeline and low alpine where the new snow is falling on a hard crust.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Most likely in lower treeline terrain where rain or wet snow are falling on old snow instead of bare ground. This may not end up being much of a problem if the freezing level is as low as forecasted.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

If you head into the backcountry by any method of travel, please consider submitting observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Expect the upper snowpack to be dry snow in the alpine and at treeline, and a mix of moist snow and frozen crusts below treeline. The new snow is burying a mix of wet, frozen, or settling snow from recent freezing level fluctuations.

In the warmest, wettest parts of this forecast area, with lower elevation ridgetops and peaks that are still tree covered, the snowpack has been mostly melted by recent rain. Other than shaded gullies that may hold snow, much of the terrain is below threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy. 12-20 cm of snow above 1000 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2° C.

Thursday

Cloudy. 10-20 cm of snow expected above 750 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.

Friday

Cloudy. 8-15 cm of snow expected above 750 m. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. 40-60 cm of snow expected above 500 m (mostly overnight). Strong northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Regions covered