Avalanche Forecast
South Coast Inland
The southern part of the region continues to be the driver for elevated hazard levels. Although wind slabs remain a concern in northern areas.
Ho, ho, hopefully the whole region will see some appreciable snowfall later in the week!
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Watch for stiff or hollow feeling snow, whumpfing, or shooting cracks.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
It may be possible to trigger a storm snow release on steep or convex terrain in areas sheltered from the wind, particulary in the southern part of the region where 80-100 cm of new snow fell last week.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Summary
There have been no new reports of avalanches since last week when southern areas saw numerous loose dry to Size 1.5, as well as slab and glide avalanches to Size 2 on steep, leeward terrain and smooth rock slabs, while the northern part of the region reported wind slab activity up to size 2 on north and west aspects in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
The recent storm snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong northerly winds in the alpine and exposed treeline areas, creating both hard and soft wind slabs in lee areas and scouring windward areas. Soft unconsolidated snow can still be found in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
The southern part of the region has seen impressive storm snow totals (90-150cm) in the past seven days, compared to northern areas of the region, which received 25-35cm. This new snow sits on crusts of variable thickness that formed on almost all aspects in mid-December (December 15th layer). On steep southerly aspects this crust is supportive, whereas on northerly aspects it is quite thin and variable.
Beneath the December 15th layer the snowpack is well settled. The late November rain crust is now buried 50-80 cm in the northern part of the region and well over 1 m in the south.
Great conditions reports from the north of the region are posted on the Mountain Information Network (MIN) here, as well as from the southern part of the region, here, and here.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the west. Temperature -12. Freezing level surface.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind moderate from the southwest. Temperature -10. Freezing level surface.
THURSDAY: Snow. Accumulation 5 - 15 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong from the southwest. Temperature -5. Freezing level 400 m.
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.
Variable winds have created wind slabs on most aspects in the alpine and exposed treeline areas. These slabs overlie the December 15th crust and may still be reactive to light loads such as a skier or rider.