Avalanche Forecast

South Coast

Date issued

Dec 17, 2017 - 4:39 PM

Valid until

Dec 18, 2017 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

mgrist

Fresh storm slabs may bond poorly to chunky, variable crusts. Watch for how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Regular season
Sunday - December 17, 2017
Alpine

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Monday - December 18, 2017
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Tuesday - December 19, 2017
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Initial reports suggest the new snow is bonding well to an underlying crust. Take a conservative approach to terrain use if you find more than 20cm of new snow on a firm crust.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, cracking or recent natural avalanches.
  • Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, skiers were able to trigger Size 1 storm slabs on westerly aspects near tree line in the North Shore mountains.

Snowpack Summary

10-25cm of snow from the weekend now sits on a widespread melt-freeze crust, which exists on all aspects and elevations. How well the incoming new snow bonds to this crust will be a critical determinant of avalanche danger on Monday.

Below the snow surface, the upper snowpack is well-settled and bonding well to the late-November rain crust.

Below tree line the snow pack is thin and there are many early season hazards. Snowpack depths range from 40 cm at 800 m elevation to 200 cm at 1220 m.

Weather Forecast

Monday will see a brief lull in the active weather pattern before significant precipitation arrives on Tuesday.

MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Accumulation of 5 cm possible. Ridge wind light from the west. Temperature near 0. Freezing level 800 m.

TUESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 20-30 cm. Ridge wind light from the southeast. Temperature near -1. Freezing level 700 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Ridge wind moderate northerly. Freezing level 600 m.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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