Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 7th, 2017 3:13PM

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

jsmith, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Storm slabs may remain reactive to human triggers in areas where sun or wind has created a cohesive slab. Avoid slopes where the snow feels stiff or slabby.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Clear, becoming cloudy mid-day / Light, southerly winds/ Freezing level sea level.Wednesday night: 20-25 cm new snow / Moderate, southwesterly winds/ Freezing level beginning to rise.Thursday: 25-30 cm new snow / Strong, southwesterly winds / Freezing level rising to 1400 m.Friday: Mostly cloudy with flurries / Light, westerly winds / Freezing level 900 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, a natural size 2 and a skier triggered size 1 storm slab avalanche were reported west of Whistler.

Snowpack Summary

40-80 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar(up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar(weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm slab reactivity may persist for longer than usual due to the presence of buried surface hoar (feathery crystals) or hard crusts.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, shotting cracks, or recent natural avalanching.Use small slopes with low consequence to test the bond of the storm snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 8th, 2017 2:00PM