Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Dec 10 – 11, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Fresh storm and wind slabs will likely take a few days to gain strength.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Fresh new storm and wind slabs are likely susceptible to human triggering especially on the northwest through northeast side of terrain breaks. Facet/crust weaknesses deeper in the snowpack are likely under critical loads at treeline and above.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Particularly in the southern part of the region where warm and wet weather is expected to continue. Watch for wet loose sluffs in steep rocky terrain and gullies.

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Expect another 10-20 cm of snow on Thursday falling mainly in the morning and afternoon with freezing levels around 1400 m, except in the Coquihalla area where it is likely to remain warm and wet. Expect moderate to strong southerly ridge top winds associated with the precipitation. A drying, clearing, and cooling trend is expected to start on Friday with isolated flurries, freezing levels dropping as low as 1000 m and winds easing to light westerlies by the evening. At this point Saturday is looking mostly dry with a mix of sun and cloud, freezing levels below 1000 m and light ride top wind.

Avalanche Summary

No new reports of avalanches. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Rain-soaked snow should soon be frozen into a solid surface crust that extends as high as treeline elevations with 15-20 cm of fresh snow on top, depending on elevation, in the northern part of the region. Meanwhile at alpine elevations fresh storm and wind slabs have likely developed and weakness deeper in the snowpack, such as crusts with associated facets, likely remain under critical loads. Snow pack depth and snow quality drastically diminishes as you drop below treeline.

Regions covered