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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 10th, 2023–Dec 11th, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Use caution on slopes that are above threshold for avalanches

Such as gullies, chutes and slopes with smooth ground at high elevations

Early season hazards/challenging travel are a concern

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported recently.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filiing out a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has likely formed wind slab on alpine features. In sheltered features this new snow sits on surface hoar. Below treeline the snow surface will likely be moist on all aspects.

In general the snowpack is very shallow. Only specific terrain features with smooth ground cover and gullies are above threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow possible at higher elevations, variable ridgetop wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level around 1500 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny with no new snow expected, southeast ridgetop wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level around 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected at higher elevations, south ridgetop wind 30 to 60 km/h, freezing level around 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 20 cm of new snow expected, south ridgetop wind 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1300 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
  • Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.
  • Travelling on skis is hazardous due to a very shallow mountain snowpack.

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.