Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Sunday: 10 cm/mm or so of snow/rain depending on elevation. Freezing level expected to be around 1500 m. Winds westerly 40-60 km/h.  Monday: mostly dry until the late afternoon/evening. Winds light during the day, but picking up to become strong southwesterly in the afternoon. Monday night/Tuesday: A storm is expected to bring around 20 cm/mm of snow/rain with freezing levels around 1700 m and strong southwesterly winds.

Rain-soaked lower elevations are unlikely to see much in the way of avalanche activity, but avalanches will become likely at higher elevations with continued snow and rain. Cornices and storm slabs were released with explosives on Friday up to size 2.0 within the new storm snow in the Whistler area.

Recent warm temperatures left us with moist snow up to around 1800 metres.  Subsequent cooling has left new crusts in many areas. Wind slabs are forming at higher elevations. Cornices are reported to be huge and collapse has become more likely with additional loading and high freezing levels. About 50-90cm below the surface, you'll likely find a rain crust which formed on January 28th. This crust is widespread and exists up to about 2100m. Where it still exists, the mid-January surface hoar layer may be found between 130 and 200 cm below the surface. The combination of warm temperatures and subsequent gradual cooling is making avalanches failing on these deeper layers unlikely.