Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Jan 16, 2018Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Heavy snow, rain and strong winds are expected for the forecast period. Expect touchy storm slabs at elevations that receive snow. At lower elevations watch for wet snow avalanches in steep, rain-soaked terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely - Certain
    Size
    1–2
    Loading from new snow and strong winds will create widespread storm slabs. Loose wet and wet slab avalanches will be the concern where rain has soaked the snow. A release near the surface may still have the potential to step down to a deeper layer.

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Rain changing to snow. Precipitation 4-8 mm. Ridge wind strong, south. Temperature +1. Freezing level lowering to 1500mTUESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 10-20 cm. Ridge wind strong, southwest. Temperature -2. Freezing level 1200 m.WEDNESDAY: Heavy snow. Accumulation 30-50 cm. Ridge wind strong, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1500 m.THURSDAY: Snow. Accumulation 25-40. Ridge wind strong, southwest. Temperature -3. Freezing level 1200 m.

Avalanche Summary

Warm alpine temperatures on Sunday produced numerous naturally triggered loose wet and wet slab avalanches mostly in the size 1-1.5 range, and a few up to size 2 on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures at all elevations are consolidating the snowpack and making the surface moist on all but north aspects. At elevations above approximately 1500 m precipitation from the previous storm fell as snow, while below that elevation, rain fell.  Below the new storm snow, a thick crust that was buried on January 6th is now buried 30-50 cm below the surface. This crust exists up to about 2000m elevation.Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Regions covered