Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Nov 29th, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky, South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, Harrison-Fraser, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko, Sky Pilot, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus.

Avoid areas where the wind has created deep deposits.

The new snow could be sitting on a touchy layer of surface hoar.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1 to 1.5) glide avalanches were observed on the Duffey Lake road in the past three days.

Snowpack Summary

Large surface hoar crystals may be getting buried by new snow today. In sheltered areas, this could become a touchy avalanche problem.

Thin melt-freeze crusts may be found on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled with no layers of concern.

The most prominent of several melt-freeze crusts in the lower snowpack is 100 - 150 cm deep in the Whistler area and decomposing.

Snowpack height is around 120 to 150 cm at treeline and decreases rapidly below about 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 Â°C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 Â°C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with 2 cm of snow, ending in the morning. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 Â°C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 Â°C. Freezing level 3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Shooting cracks, whumpfs, and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.

Problems

Storm Slabs

If the new snow falls on surface hoar crystals it may be touchy to rider triggers. This will be more likely in open areas, sheltered from the wind or where the wind is depositing snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Nov 30th, 2024 4:00PM