Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
The current forecast calls for very little rain, but each run of the weather models shows more rain than the previous. Despite the recent warm temperatures, the effect of rain on snow could be dramatic. Watch for rapidly changing conditions Friday.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.
- The first few hours of rain will likely be the most dangerous period
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday numerous loose avalanches to size 1.5 were observed from south aspects at all elevations. On Tuesday reported avalanche activity was limited to snow balling and pin wheels on north aspects.
Snowpack Summary
On Sunday a slight crust began to form on south and southwest facing aspects as warm temperatures and sun combined to moisten the snow surface. By Tuesday the upper 5 cm of the snowpack had started to become moist, even on upper elevation northeast facing features.
On December 28th and 29th two successive storms produced 50 to 80 cm of snow. On December 29th and 30th strong to extreme winds out of the southwest, south and southeast created widespread wind effect. Time and warm temperatures have allowed this snow to settle and bond well with the underlying surface. The exception may be with wind slabs in more extreme terrain and isolated pockets of buried surface hoar below treeline. A widespread melt-freeze crust may still be an issue in the northern portion of the region where it's down 50 to 70 cm below the surface, but is likely trending towards dormancy. Around the Coquihalla this interface is now thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack.
The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
Weather Forecast
Friday looks to be a pretty funky meteorological period. The good news is that we are expected to return to a more typical stormy winter pattern. The bad news is that we have to endure some rain, perhaps even some freezing rain, before we get back to the snow on Saturday.
FRIDAY: Overcast, light inversion with above freezing temperatures between 1500 m and 2600 m, cooler air in the valleys, moderate to strong southerly wind, 1 to 2 mm of precipitation which may fall as freezing rain.
SATURDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 800 m, light to moderate southwest wind, 1 to 3 mm of precipitation expected.
SUNDAY: Decreasing cloud cover, freezing level around 800 m, light southwest wind, trace of precipitation expected.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- South Coast Inland URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/south-coast-inland.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Friday may bring rain or even freezing rain at all elevations. The most dramatic effect will likely be on high elevation north facing slopes, but prolonged rain could initiate widespread natural avalanches on all aspects and elevations.