Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Apr 9 – 10, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Touchy wind slabs exist below ridges in some areas. These can be triggered by the weight of a person.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–7
    Persistent slab avalanches have become less likely, but large avalanches remain possible, especially with a large trigger like cornice fall.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Warm temperatures may continue to weaken surface snow. Wet slabs and loose wet avalanches can push you around, entrain mass and become surprisingly large. Also, avoid traveling on or underneath any slopes which have glide cracks.

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Scattered light precipitation. Freezing level around 2000 m. Light southerly winds.Wednesday/Thursday: Light precipitation. Freezing level around 1900 m on Wednesday and 1500 m on Thursday. Light southerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

Recent observations include several loose-wet avalanches up to size 2 from steep solar aspects and wet slabs triggered by skiers below 1400 m. There has been some cornice fall and ice fall. On Sunday, a few small wind slabs were observed at ridge top. Last week, large slabs were suspected to have failed on the late-March interface.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust exists on solar aspects and at low elevations. In some areas, limited overnight cooling has kept surface snow from re-freezing, leaving it loose and cohesionless. Surface hoar exists on shady slopes up into the alpine. Pockets of wind slab formed with recent southerly or easterly winds. Dry settling or faceting snow can be found on high north aspects. A predominately crusty weak interface from late March, now down 50-150cm, has become less likely to trigger, but remains a potential failure layer for large slab avalanches.

Regions covered