Tuesday’s atmospheric river storm has created dangerous conditions in the mountains near Metro Vancouver, prompting Avalanche Canada to issue an “extreme” risk warning for avalanches in the Sea to Sky corridor.
Avalanche Canada divides the mountains near Vancouver into three groups – the South Coast (including the North Shore Mountains), the Sea to Sky and the South Coast Inland (including the Fraser Valley Mountains).
All three have at least a “high” risk of avalanches on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the alpine area of the Sea to Sky mountains rated as “extreme”.
“Another atmospheric river storm will bring lots of rainfall and rising frost levels,” the agency said. “Therefore, expect to see a widespread avalanche cycle with the potential for large avalanches at full speed. Avoid all avalanche terrain in the next few days.”
The third and strongest of three atmospheric rivers in a row hits the southern BC. Tuesday, and many areas are under a precipitation warning with up to 120 millimeters of rainfall.
The rain will also cause existing snow to melt as the point where the water freezes moves further up the mountains.
This storm has created risky avalanche conditions, and this is Avalanche Canada’s forecast for the three mountain ranges:
Sea to heaven
Avalanche hazard assessment for the Sea to Sky Mountains from November 30 to December 1, 2021. (Avalanche Canada)
South coast
Avalanche hazard assessment for the south coast mountains from November 30 to December 1, 2021. (Avalanche Canada)
The south coast inland
Avalanche view of the South Coast Inland Mountains from November 30 to December 1, 2021. (Avalanche Canada)
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