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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2023–Dec 19th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

Continued warm and wet conditions at all elevations have set the stage for small human-triggered wet avalanches. Caution when travelling near or around terrain traps.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There have been no reported avalanches in our region.

Please help out your backcountry community by submitting a MIN report if you head out to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has rapidly diminished over the past 3 days due to warm temperatures and rain. Uncompacted areas are transitioning to isothermal conditions to the ground, and the crusts within the snowpack are deteriorating. Snow depth varies significantly based on the aspect, ranging from 50-100 cm and continue decreasing rapidly below the 1000-meter elevation mark.

The snowpack has yet to cover many early-season hazards and large areas of terrain are below avalanche threshold. Only specific terrain features with smooth ground cover, gullies, or established avalanche paths are above the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, 15-40 mm of precipitation with a mix of snow and rain, ridgetop wind south 50 to 60 km/h, freezing levels around 2500 m. 

Tuesday

Cloudy, 5 to 10 mm of precipitation, ridgetop wind south 25 km/h, freezing levels 2000 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy, 5 to 10 mm of precipitation, ridgetop wind south 5 to 15 km/h, freezing levels 2000 m.

Thursday

Cloudy, 1 to 5 mm of precipitation, ridgetop wind south 5 to 15 km/h, freezing levels descend to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.