Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Sea To Sky.
Confidence
Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with an area of warm air moving into alpine elevations. Above freezing temperatures are expected in the Alpine.Monday: Continued warm air at higher elevations with light to moderate Southwest winds and no precipitation.Tuesday: Cloudy with light to moderate Southwest winds and seasonal temperatures in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanches up to size 2.0 were observed that released in pockets of wind transported storm snow on South and Southeast aspects that were about 25 cm deep. There was one observation of a size 3.0 natural storm slab avalanche on Northeast aspect in the Pemberton area that appeared to have been triggered by loose snow sloughing from steep terrain. There was a skier remote triggered avalanche size 1.0-2.0 and a skier accidental triggered avalanche size 2.0 on a steep rocky shallow facetted slope in the Whistler backcountry.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a soft storm slab. In some areas the wind has transported this available snow into a moderately stiff wind slab at higher elevations. Ski penetration has been reported to be about 15 cm and foot penetration is about 25 cm in the alpine, and about 60 cm below treeline in weak facetted snowpacks. Basal depth hoar in shallow snowpack areas also remain a concern, particularly on south aspects. Forecast warm alpine temperatures over the next few days may release weak cornices or loose moist snow from steep solar exposed aspects. Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface in many areas. In glaciated terrain open and poorly bridged crevasses are everywhere.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2