Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 12th, 2017 4:19PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low.

jmcbride, Avalanche Canada

With spring-like conditions dominating the region, be aware of changing conditions during the day or from one aspect to another. Wet snow or pockets of windslab may still be lingering.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the northeast. Temperature +2. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Temperature +5. Freezing level 3000 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate from the west. Temperature near 0. Freezing level 800 m.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed on northerly aspects along Duffey Lake Road with the rapid daytime warming that occurred on Sunday. Last week, numerous small loose wet avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep south and west-facing slopes on Wednesday and Thursday, while glide avalanches to size 2 were also observed on steep, smooth rock slabs around the Coquihalla on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

The recent alpine inversion and warm temperatures have created a variety of surfaces across the region depending on aspect. On southerly aspects, a spring-like surface crust has formed but may become moist in the afternoon on steep, sun-exposed slopes. On shaded north aspects a thin surface crust has formed with dry snow below. The upper snowpack is and well settled and overlies the late November rain crust, now 20-50 cm deep. Recent snowpack tests have produced hard, resistant compression test results on small sugary, snow crystals (facets) associated with this layer. However these facets were noted to be showing signs of "rounding" or gaining strength. Treeline snow depths are approximately 1 m throughout the region.

Valid until: Dec 13th, 2017 2:00PM