Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Dec 10 – 11, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Rising temperatures are increasing the chance of avalanches. Monitor the conditions and back off slopes as the surface becomes wet.

Reactive wind slabs may exist in high elevation terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Slabs may be possible to trigger at high elevations where dry snow has been loaded into leeward terrain features.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Loose avalanches may start small, but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, explosive and skier controlled storm slabs were reported up to size 2.

If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

The surface snow will likely become wet due to warm alpine temperatures.

In the alpine, 20 to 40 cm of snow from the weekend sits above a thin crust. Below the crust there are no layers of concern in the well-settled snowpack.

Below 1800 m, there may be 10-20 cm of snow overtop a thicker crust capping a rain-soaked snowpack.

Snow depths at treeline are around 100 cm near Whistler, and 70 cm in the Duffy.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Clear periods. <15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom with a strong alpine temperature inversion.

Tuesday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated rain showers. <15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.

Thursday

New snow 5 to 10 cm. 15 to 35 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Regions covered