Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Apr 23 – 24, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Be sure to verify conditions before committing to steep slopes and back off if the snow is wet and slushy. Start your day early and end early.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Large cornices hang over many ridges and are more likely to collapse during warm, sunny weather.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    A prolonged period with no significant overnight refreeze may be established. Natural wet loose avalanche activity is possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a large cornice was triggered using explosives. This entrained wet snow on the slope below up to size 2.

Avalanche activity, such as wet loose and cornice falls, may increase with solar radiation, high freezing levels, and a limited overnight refreeze.

Snowpack Summary

Dry snow may linger on shady north slopes in the alpine above 2200 m.

The snowpack is generally strong, with a typical spring diurnal pattern: daytime warming moistens the upper snowpack, then overnight cooling usually forms a hard crust at higher elevations. Lower elevations may not refreeze and are experiencing an all-melt, no freeze scenario and melting out quickly. Isothermal snow conditions exist below 1500 m.

Dormant weak layers may still exist in isolated alpine terrain, but likely require a very heavy trigger, such as a cornice fall. This should be on your radar with forecast high freezing levels, solar radiation, and a limited overnight refreeze.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear periods. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2°C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Friday

Sunny. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +5 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

Regions covered