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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 15th, 2019–Dec 16th, 2019

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

Regions

South Coast.

Use caution as you transition into wind exposed terrain. Avalanches are possible in alpine terrain where wind slabs have formed.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 15-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -4

MONDAY - Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 5 cm / southwest wind, 30-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2

TUESDAY - Rain and wet flurries, 10-15 cm / southwest wind, 40-70 km/h / alpine high temperature near +2 / freezing level 1500 m

WEDNESDAY - Rain and snow, 15-20 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near +2 / freezing level 1500 m, dropping to 800 m in the afternoon

Avalanche Summary

There have been no recent reports of avalanches, but there is very little information available at this time.

Wind slab avalanches could be triggered by humans, especially in wind loaded areas at higher elevations.

If you get out into the mountains, let us know what you see by posting to the Mountain Information Network!

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of snow fell last week at treeline and in the alpine. This snow sits on a weak layer of surface hoar above about 1400 m. Previous strong southwest winds have likely redistributed the new snow and formed wind slabs. The new snow sits on a very thin snowpack of about 30-50 cm at 1200 m.

Click here to check out a MIN report on snow conditions from near Mt.Seymour on Sunday.

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.