Sea To Sky

Don't linger underneath cornices. If the sun comes out, avoid sunny slopes.

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

The first in a series of fronts is expected to bring 5-10 cm snow overnight Friday, with moderate south-westerly winds and the freezing level dropping to around 1300 m. There is a lull on Saturday before a second front brings light snow and moderate winds again on Sunday. Another lull is expected on Monday.

A natural cycle of size 1-3 loose wet avalanches was observed on steep sunny slopes over the last two days. A few size 1-2 wind slabs were also triggered naturally and by skiers recently, however this activity seems to have slowed.

Cornices are large and weak. Incoming light snow will land on variable surfaces including wind slabs and scoured surfaces, surface hoar and sun crusts. Recently formed wind slabs are generally settling, but may still be reactive to human triggers in specific terrain, and may be triggered by cornice fall. Several crusts can be found in the upper metre of the snowpack. A layer of surface hoar buried in early January is down 1-2 m. In most places it is thought to be capped by a thick strong crust and triggering an avalanche on it is unlikely.