Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Feb 1 – 2, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Enjoy the much improved riding conditions but keep an eye out for terrain traps where the consequences of being caught in a small sluff or slab could be severe.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Triggering fresh soft wind slabs is possible in exposed lee terrain near ridge crests, especially on steep unsupported slopes. 

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Cornice falls can be destructive by themselves, but can also be a trigger for surprisingly large avalanches on the slope below.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Cold dry snow could sluff easily in steep terrain. Additionally, loose wet sluffs are possible on steep sun-exposed slopes if the sun pokes out.

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level remains near 500-600 m and winds are light and variable. Wednesday: Periods of snow 10-20 cm. The freezing level is around 800-1000 m and winds are moderate from the SW-SE. Thursday: Cloudy with light snow. The freezing level is near 1000-1200 m. Ridge winds are moderate from the SW.

Avalanche Summary

Skier testing and explosives control on the weekend produced several size 1-1.5 soft slabs from immediate lee features and loose dry avalanches on steep slopes. There were also reports of a couple size 1 accidentally triggered wind slabs from steep leeward alpine slopes.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of dry new snow sits on 60-80 cm of moist settled snow from last week's warm storm system, or a rain crust below around 1800 m. Expect to find pockets of fresh wind slab in exposed lee terrain and the potential for loose dry avalanches on steep open slopes. Cornices are also becoming large and potentially weak. Where it still exists, the mid-January surface hoar layer is between 100 and 180 cm below the surface. The combination of heavy storm loading and warm temperatures has likely flushed out this weak layer in most areas. However, there is still some uncertainty regarding the sensitivity and distribution of this persistent avalanche problem, especially at high elevations in the north of the region where it remains reactive in snowpack tests (hard to initiate but sudden "pops" results).

Regions covered