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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2024–Feb 4th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Even where dry snow exists, soft, sheltered powder in is likely in short supply. Choose lower angled terrain if you're finding yourself drawn into wind-affected snow.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

10-20 cm of dry new snow at 1950 m and lower allowed for productive control missions in the Whistler area Thursday and again on Friday. Early Thursday these yielded small cornices and dry slabs, but with afternoon warming results transitioned to small wet loose releases. Friday's reports included several large explosives-controlled cornices.

Higher elevations still holding cornices and wind slabs formed with roughly double these recent snow amounts remain a concern.

Snowpack Summary

Reports of recent snow above 2100 m suggest a maximum of 30 - 40 cm in the Whistler area. Locations father south and west of Hwy 99 should have 10-20 cm more. In the Whistler area these amounts taper off quickly to 10-15 cm above 1800 m.

Where new snow exists, it has generally been redistributed by strong to extreme south winds that have exposed the underlying crust in many areas. This crust is widespread, is growing stronger and more supportive by the day, and caps 30 - 50 cm of moist or wet snow below it.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of various old crusts and is generally well-settled and well-bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Mainly clear. Northwest alpine winds 5 - 15 km/h, increasing. Freezing level remaining near 1300 m.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Northeast alpine wind 10 - 20 km/h, increasing. Treeline temperature -4 °C with freezing level around 1200 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. East or northeast alpine wind 5 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C with freezing levels around 1200 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. Southwest alpine winds 10 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C with freezing level around 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.