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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 24th, 2023–Dec 25th, 2023

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

Vancouver Island, East Island, North Island, South Island, West Island.

If the new snowfall surpasses 30 cm, the danger level in the alpine and at treeline is deemed considerable.

Travel carefully due to early season hazards.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported before 4pm on Sunday.

Please help out your backcountry community by submitting a MIN report if you head out to the backcountry.

Snowpack Summary

Expected snowfall and rainfall will begin breaking down the upper snowpack at lower elevations and as south winds increase, will begin to build deeper wind slabs at higher elevations. Past storm snow is likely to have adhered effectively to the existing old surfaces. Below treeline, you'll find dirt, or shallow, heavy, moist or wet snow.

Previously mild temperatures and continuous rainfall have saturated and reduced the snowpack. The current snow depth ranges from 40 to 90 cm, diminishing rapidly below the 1000 m elevation threshold.

Terrain features with smooth ground cover, gullies, or established avalanche paths are above the threshold for avalanches.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy. Light rain or snow expected. Freezing level rising to 1000-1200 m. Treeline temperature around 1 °C. Light to moderate south east ridgetop wind.

Monday

Cloudy. Heavy snow and rain expected to begin in the pm 30 to 100 mm. Freezing level rising to 1200-1500 m. Treeline temperature around 1 °C. strong gusting extreme, south east ridgetop wind.

Tuesday

Cloudy. Heavy snow and rain that is expected to cease in the am 20-40 mm. Freezing level 1200-1500 m. Treeline temperature around 1 °C. Moderate building to Strong in the afternoon , south ridgetop wind.

Wednesday

Cloudy. Snow and rain that is expected to begin in the pm 5 to 10 mm. Freezing level 1500-1900 m. Treeline temperature around 3 °C. Moderate gusting strong, south ridgetop wind.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.