Sea To Sky

Large cornices line many ridges. Give them a wide berth, as even brief sun may trigger cornice failure and initiate wind slabs below.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.
• We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.
• We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Over the past week around Whistler, storm slabs (size 1–1.5) were rider-triggered early week, mainly on north-facing alpine slopes. Midweek, explosives produced a large (size 2) cornice fall entraining loose dry snow. Thursday saw a small (size 1) wind slab from ski cutting. Friday, explosives triggered large (size 2) storm slab and cornice avalanches.

15 to 30 cm has accumulated in the past few days, with strong to extreme south west wind. Expect deeper, more reactive deposits in leeward terrain. In the alpine on windward terrain expect to find scoured, hard, and wind affected snow.

40 to 60 cm over the past week overlies a widespread, thick and hard crust below about 2000 m, and old wind-affected snow at upper elevations.

Deeper in the snowpack, older weak layers currently buried 70–100+ cm have likely gained strength, and are not considered a problem at this time.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Monday
Mostly sunny. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.