Avalanche Forecast

High -

  

TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy / Light, northeast ridgetop wind / Alpine low -15 / Freezing level surface.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / Alpine high -6 / Freezing level 800 m.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Snow; 10-15 cm. / Strong, southwest ridgetop wind / Alpine low -10 / Freezing level 500 m.

THURSDAY: Snow; 10-15 cm. / Strong, west ridgetop wind / Alpine high -6 / Freezing level 900 m.

FRIDAY: Cloudy / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / Alpine high -6 / Freezing level 800 m.

Sunday night's storm resulted in a natural avalanche cycle, with storm slabs up to size 2.5 on wind loaded features. Explosive control on Monday produced numerous size 2-2.5 storm slab avalanches (roughly 50 cm thick).  

Continued strong southwest winds have created thick wind slabs at upper elevations that will likely remain reactive to human triggers for several days.

The weekend's storm delivered around 30 cm to the Whistler area and up to 60 cm in areas further west and south. Continued strong southwest winds have formed reactive wind slabs at treeline and above, while a rain crust has formed below 1300 m. 

The recent snow buried a variety of snow surfaces including wind pressed snow in the alpine, sun crusts on solar aspects, and a spotty layer surface hoar in some sheltered treeline areas. The kind of surface the recent snow buried will effect how long the recently formed slabs will remain reactive to human triggers.

The mid/lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
• Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.