Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
Ongoing wet weather is maintaining a heightened danger of loose wet avalanches at all elevations. Storm slabs are a potential concern in the alpine.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Be aware that storm slabs may be forming at alpine elevations. Dial back your terrain selection if you find the snow surface transitioning from wet snow to new snow as you gain elevation.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use extra caution in lee areas in the alpine. Storm snow may be forming touchy slabs.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. That said, recent rainfall is suspected to have caused a natural loose wet avalanche cycle. Although natural avalanche activity and human triggering potential has decreased in sync with falling temperatures, ongoing rain will maintain lingering loose wet avalanche potential into the near future, particularly in steep, unsupported terrain. Storm slab development is an additional concern at high alpine elevations where snow may accumulate.
Snowpack Summary
A strong start to the season brought good snow coverage to treeline and alpine elevations of the South Coast mountains. While reports of snowpack composition have been limited, there is confidence that recent heavy rainfall has saturated the upper snowpack throughout the region.
Weather Forecast
Friday: 5-10 mm of rain with potential for accumulations of about 10 cm of new snow at alpine elevations. Strong southwest winds. Freezing levels of around 1400m with alpine temperatures of 0 to -1.
Saturday: 15-20 mm of rain. Moderate south winds. Freezing levels rising to about 1800 metres with alpine temperatures around 0 to +1.
Sunday: 40-50mm of rain. Strong to extreme south winds. Freezing levels rising to 2500 metres with alpine temperatures around +5
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Rain has saturated the upper snowpack and potential for loose wet avalanching exists on steep, unsupported terrain features. Even a small loose wet avalanche can become a big problem if it gathers enough mass or exposes you to a terrain trap.