Sea To Sky

Use good travel habits, and avoid stiff pockets of wind slab in steep terrain.

Cornices are large and fragile. Give them a wide berth, as even brief sun may trigger cornice failure.

Moderate

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

On Friday and Saturday around Whistler, explosives avalanche control triggered large (size 2) cornice avalanches.

40 to 60 cm of settling snow (possibly moist, possibly containing thin crusts) overlies a widespread, thick and hard crust below about 2200 m, and old wind-affected snow above 2200 m.

Steep south facing slopes may be crusty or moist depending on time of day and sun exposure.

On wind exposed alpine ridges, expect to find wind-scoured crust, or firm, wind affected snow.

The snowpack below the mid-March crust is wet but well settled and strong.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear skies. 1 cm of snow. 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind, decreasing to 10 km/h through the night. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high -5 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Travel early on sun-exposed slopes before cornices weaken with daytime warming.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.