Avalanche Forecast

South Coast Inland

Date issued

Dec 13, 2017 - 3:30 PM

Valid until

Dec 14, 2017 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

jmcbride

With another day of spring-like weather in the forecast keep an eye out for changing snow conditions during the day, or when moving from shady to sunny aspects.  Watch for wet snow on steep, sunny aspects, or pockets of windslab near ridge crests.

Regular season
Wednesday - December 13, 2017
Alpine

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.

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.

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.

Thursday - December 14, 2017
Alpine

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.

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.

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.

Friday - December 15, 2017
Alpine

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.

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.

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 Summary

There have been no new avalanche reports since the weekend when numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed on northerly aspects along the Duffey Lake Road with rapid daytime warming that occurred on Sunday. Prior to that, numerous small loose wet avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep south and west-facing slopes on Wednesday and Thursday, while glide avalanches to size 2 were also observed on steep, smooth rock slabs around the Coquihalla on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

The recent alpine inversion and warm temperatures across the region have created a spring-like crust on most aspects. With another day of warm temperatures and high freezing level forecasted for Thursday, this crust will likely become moist in the afternoon particularly on steep, sun-exposed slopes. On shaded north aspects the surface crust is thinner with dry snow below. The upper snowpack is and well settled and overlies the late November rain crust, now 20-50 cm deep. Recent snowpack tests in the Duffey Lake area have produced hard, resistant compression test results on small sugary, snow crystals (facets) associated with this layer. However these facets were noted to be showing signs of "rounding" or gaining strength. Treeline snow depths are approximately 1 m throughout the region.

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Temperature +4. Freezing level 3500 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong from the west. Temperature -2. Freezing level 700 m.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind moderate from the west. Temperature -4. 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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