Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Dec 17 – 18, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–5
    New and buried wind slabs exist on many slopes due to changing winds. Be alert for these below ridge crests, behind terrain features, and in cross-loaded gullies.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–4
    In areas protected from the wind, fast-moving sluff could knock you off your feet or carry you into a terrain trap.

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Light SW winds. Alpine temp -12. A few cm snow.Wednesday: Strong S winds. Alpine temp -8. Heavy snow (~40 cm).Thursday: Light to moderate S winds. Alpine temp -9. Moderate to heavy snow (~30 cm).

Avalanche Summary

Recent activity has been limited to a few small (size 1-1.5) soft slab avalanches in immediate lee features and small loose snow avalanches in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

New snow depths are highly variable and decrease as you go inland. 40-80 cm of recent storm snow overlies a thin layer of surface hoar in some areas. Wind slabs are buried on many exposed slopes in the alpine and near treeline from previous winds. New wind slabs are likely to form as low density snow will be easily shifted by forecast strong southerly winds. The mid-pack is well settled and strong.A layer of surface hoar that formed during late November has been found intact or decomposing in some locations down a metre or more. The early November crust/facet combination near the base of the snowpack seems to be dormant. Triggering one of these persistent weak layers from a shallow snowpack area remains possible.

Regions covered