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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2022–Dec 5th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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.

Regions

South Coast, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Mixed snow conditions can be found.

Evaluate slopes on an individual basis before committing to them.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in our area lately. Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.

Snowpack Summary

This weekend, a thin sun crust was formed on steep south-facing slopes. Elsewhere, the surface varies from deeper pockets of wind-affected snow in the alpine and cohesion-less snow at treeline (40-50 cm). Further down in the snowpack, there are reports of a thick melt-freeze crust that produced signs of instabilities earlier this weekend. At around 1000 m the snowpack reaches a depth of around 90 cm.

Lower treeline and below treeline elevation are still below the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

An arctic ridge of high pressure will continue to be the main attraction. Conditions will be sunny and dry along with a northerly flow pattern. The next frontal system is expected on Wednesday afternoon.

Sunday Night

Clear sky. Light northeasterly ridge wind. Low of-3 C at treeline. Freezing level lowering to 800 m. Temperature inversion.

Monday

Mostly sunny. No precipitation. Light to moderate northerly ridge wind. High -1 C at treeline. Freezing level lowering to the valley bottom during the day. Possible temperature inversion.

Tuesday

Cloudy. Isolated flurries. 2-5 cm. Northwesterly ridge wind up to 50 km/h. High of -4 C at treeline. Freezing level around 500 m.

Wednesday

Snow 5 cm. Moderate southwesterly ridge wind. High of -5 C at treeline. Freezing level around 700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

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.