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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 3rd, 2024–Dec 4th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Sea To Sky, South Coast, South Coast Inland, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Powell River, Spearhead, Tantalus, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron, Birkenhead, Coquihalla, Duffey, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Wet loose avalanches may become a problem on steep slopes, where the surface is found wet.

The continued mild temperature has consolidated the early-season snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches (size 1.5 to 2) were naturally triggered by the sun on steep sun-exposed terrain at treeline and alpine near Whistler in the last two days.

Warming signs of instability such as tree bombs and pinwheels were observed throughout the region this past weekend.

If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust has likely formed at the snow surface due to overnight cooling. Rising temperature will start to melt the snow surface, as the day progresses, especially on steep sun-exposed slopes.

Alpine slopes are wind-affected, scoured, or hold a thin surface crust. In sheltered terrain at treeline, large weak surface hoar crystals may still be persisting under 15 cm of moist snow.

Snow depths vary from 100 to 140 cm at treeline and decrease rapidly below 1500 m, exposing early-season hazards.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500. Alpine temperature inversion.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6 °C. Freezing level 3000 m. Alpine temperature inversion.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Friday

Cloudy with heavy precipitation either rain or snow. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

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.