Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 2nd, 2018 3:48PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Cornices and Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Normal cautions should help you to manage any lingering alpine hazards. Travel conditions at lower elevations remain rugged.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: Clear with cloudy periods. Light northwest winds.Monday: Sunny. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels near 800 metres.Tuesday: Sunny. Light northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -1, increasing overnight with the onset of a temperature inversion.Wednesday: Sunny. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around +2 as freezing levels rise to 2000 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches have been reported. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.

Snowpack Summary

The warm storm early last week produced over 200 mm of precipitation that mostly fell as rain. This rain washed away much of the snowpack at lower elevations. The highest alpine terrain in the region more likely received heavy snowfall during the storm. This snowfall, paired with extreme winds out of the south/southwest is likely to have produced cornice growth along many ridgelines.Alpine areas near Squamish have the most snow, with around 70 cm of settled snow on the ground. In these areas there may be a crust lower in the snowpack, however it is likely now well bonded to the overlying storm snow. It is thought that there is insufficient snow for avalanches below 1500 m.

Problems

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Cornices have likely formed along many alpine ridgelines. These can fail under the weight of a person or group.
Be wary of traveling on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.Stay well back from cornices when traveling on ridgelines.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
If there's any good riding/travel to be had, it's going to be in the alpine. This is also where you're most likely to find lingering wind slabs.
Be cautious around mid-slope terrain features like ridges and ribs where slabs may be deeper.The deepest slabs will be found immediately lee of ridge-crest.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Dec 3rd, 2018 2:00PM