Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Sea To Sky.
Confidence
High
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mainly sunny. The freezing level should jump to around 1800-2000 m and ridge winds are light to moderate from the east. SATURDAY: Overcast with a chance of light precipitation. The freezing level is around 1800-2100 m and winds remain light. SUNDAY: Moderate snow or rain with freezing levels near 1800 m and light ridge winds.
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity is primarily limited to natural and explosive-triggered cornice falls and small loose wet sluffs from steep sunny terrain. Some cornice falls have been large (size 3), but only a few triggered 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 cause loose wet snow to continue shedding from steep sun exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface consists of a sun crust or moist snow on sun-exposed slopes (depending on the time of day), dry settled powder on shady slopes (cool temperatures have maintained good snow quality), and pockets of fresh wind slab in lee and cross-loaded terrain features near ridge crests. In general, the snowpack is strong and well-settled throughout with no notable persistent weaknesses. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3
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