Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 24th, 2015 8:28AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

esharp, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

There is great riding to be had but don't let your guard down. Avalanche hazard still exists especially on ridge loaded lee features in the alpine and cross loaded terrain at and above tree-line.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Friday and Saturday look to be mainly dry. Â Â An artic front just inland stretches almost all the way down the coast and will keep freezing levels below 500m. Winds will be light and variable through the forecast period.Â Sunday will see light snowfall with accumulations of up to 5cm.

Avalanche Summary

The most recent storm snow is sluffing in steep terrain with minimal destructive potential. Some larger storm slab avalanche have been reported from the North Shore where conditions may be closer to what can be found around Garibaldi. Further north, a skier was involved in a size 2 avalanche in the Joffre group on Wednesday that released from a wind loaded pocket at ridgeline.

Snowpack Summary

Thursdays storm brought between 5 and 20cm of new low density snow to the region accompanied by light winds. This brings the total snow fall accumulations in the last 5 days up to 85cm. Temperatures have remained cool which will slow the settlement of the new snow. Fresh or buried old wind slabs can be found in immediate lee features on north to northeast aspects at tree-line and in the alpine.

Problems

Wind Slabs

People have been getting surprised by isolated pockets of wind slab at tree-line and in the alpine.

The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.>If you posses the skills carefully dropping chunks of cornice onto a slope can be a low risk way to test start zones before committing to a bigger line.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 25th, 2015 2:00PM