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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2026–Mar 28th, 2026

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

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

Confidence

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.

Avalanche Summary

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.

Snowpack Summary

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.

Weather Summary

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.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • 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.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.