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Avalanche Forecast

Dec 27th, 2022–Dec 28th, 2022
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Additional snow continues to build thick storm slabs at higher elevations. Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 30 cm of new snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, natural wet slab avalanches, up to size 2.5, were observed at 1800 m and below. Slab depths were 40-60 cm.

On Sunday, several natural wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from 1800 m and below the Coquihalla highway corridor. A size 2.5 natural storm slab avalanche was observed on an east aspect in the alpine. Backcountry users should expect to see continued evidence of the weekend's natural avalanche cycle.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine 30 - 40 cm of snow and variable southerly winds have built cohesive slabs in lees. Below 1500 m the snowpack is thoroughly saturated and waiting for freezing levels to drop to refreeze.

At the start of the storm, fresh snow covered a layer of facetted and unconsolidated snow that formed during the recent cold weather. The snowpack was well settled and bonding well. Snowpack depths reach 200 cm at treeline and higher.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mainly cloudy. Precipitation continues tonight with another 5-10 mm, local 20 mm. Westerley winds 40-60 km/h. Ridgetop low temperature -2. Freezing levels 1000-1400 m.

Wednesday

Scattered flurries 10 mm. Southwesterly winds 20-40 km/h. Ridgetop high temperature -3. Freezing levels 700-1000 m.

Scattered flurries continue through the night, 2 - 8 mm. Freezing levels 500-1000 m

Thursday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 2-5 mm. Southerly winds 40 km/h. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Freezing levels hover from 1000m.

Friday

Cloudy with flurries, 10-15 mm. Westerley 40-60 km/h winds. Ridgetop high temperature 0 C. Freezing levels hover near 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Southerly winds have redistributed 30-40 cm of new snow into deep pockets at higher elevations. Where snow remained dry expect to find pockets of storm slabs that are reactive to human-triggering. Be especially cautious transitioning into wind-loaded terrain, more reactive deposits lurk in leeward features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5