Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 31st, 2022 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada bchristie, Avalanche Canada

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Sea To Sky.

Cold, winter snow may still be found in north facing terrain in the high alpine. Supportive crust everywhere else. Assess big alpine lines for windslab hazard before choosing to ride them. 

Summary

Confidence

High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Very light snow/rain expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind, trending to northwest at higher elevations. Freezing level falling to around 750 m. 

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. 1-4 cm of snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to strong at high elevations. Freezing level rising to 1300 m through the day.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with a sunny break mid-day. 3-10 cm of snow expected overnight, with the highest amounts being around Squamish. Light snow/rain through the day. Light southwest ridgetop wind trending to moderate west at high elevations. Freezing level falling to 800 m overnight, back up to 1300 m through the day.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. Moderate to heavy snow/rain expected. Up to 40 cm above treeline. Moderate south ridgetop wind, trending to extreme southwest at high elevations. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday before 4 pm. 

On Wednesday, in the Blackcomb backcountry, two avalanches were reported on north aspects in the alpine: a small, rider triggered windslab, and a large, natural cornice failure that didn't trigger an avalanche on the slope below.

Snowpack Summary

Supportive surface crust on all aspects into the alpine. On the highest peaks, above 2200 m, cold, winter snow may be found in shaded alpine terrain. Small, reactive windslabs on isolated, high alpine features.

The rest of the upper snowpack consists of a number of crust/facet/surface hoar interfaces buried in March that seem to have bonded during the recent warm weather. 

The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well bonded. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Moderate southwest wind redistributed recent snow into small, reactive windslabs over firm surfaces on isolated features in the alpine. 

  • Watch for signs of instability like shooting cracks and recent avalanches.
  • Windslabs can be most reactive when they are fresh, so tune in to loading patterns when you see blowing snow. 
  • Use small test slopes to see how windslabs are bonding to the old surface.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 1st, 2022 4:00PM

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