Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Sea To Sky.
Confidence
High
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Mainly sunny. The freezing level is around 1400-1600 m. Ridge winds are moderate from the northeast. FRIDAY: Mainly sunny. The freezing level should jump to around 2000 m and ridge winds are generally light. SATURDAY: Increasing cloud. The freezing level is around 1800 m and winds remain light.
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity is primarily limited to natural and explosive-triggered cornice falls. Some of these have been large (size 3) with only a few triggering slabs on the slope below. On Tuesday, one explosive triggered cornice triggered a 1-2 m deep slab on the slope below that released on an old weakness. Forecast sunshine and warming will likely increase cornice activity and result in loose sluffing from steep sun exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 120cm of snow fell over the last week or so. This snow is reported to be settling and gaining strength, but lingering storm instabilities may still exist, especially in recently wind loaded terrain features. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile. Expect to encounter a sun crust or moist snow on sun-exposed slopes depending on the time of day. The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 5
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3