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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 15th, 2019–Dec 16th, 2019

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

South Coast Inland.

Conditions vary significantly from north to south within the region. In the north, avalanche danger is likely moderate in the alpine and low at treeline and below treeline. In the south, avalanche danger remains elevated as storm slabs sit on a buried weak layer.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to field data and reports showing a wide variation in conditions throughout the region.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods / southwest wind, 20-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8

MONDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 30-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 40-70 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1

WEDNESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 30-50 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3

Avalanche Summary

Observations are limited in this region, though there was a MIN report of several small human triggered avalanches around the Coquihalla Summit area on Saturday. Click here to read the report.

In the south, there was likely a natural avalanche cycle on Thursday and Friday. By Sunday morning, there was up to 60 cm of new snow, which means that the potential for human triggered avalanches remains elevated. 

In the northern part of the region: There have been no avalanches reported in recent days. There may be isolated pockets of wind slab and/or storm slab at higher elevations that could be triggered by humans.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack conditions vary greatly from north to south within the South Coast Inland region.

In the south, near the Coquihalla, up to 60 cm of recent fresh snow snow likely sits on a weak layer of surface hoar. Previous strong winds have likely formed storm slabs that may be reactive to human triggers. The middle of the snowpack contains a mix of hard crusts and facet/crust layers. Snowpack depths at treeline are about 100-150 cm.

In the north, near the Duffey Lake area the recent storm only brought about 10-15 cm of new snow, which is now sitting on an already very thin snowpack. Snowpack depths at treeline are about 40-50 cm.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.