Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Dec 7 – 8, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Spring-like conditions should continue. Be cautious on steep slopes if the snow feels moist or wet.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Isolated winds slabs have formed on a variety of aspects at higher elevations and in some cases sit above a buried crust. Caution is advised on steep terrain adjacent to ridges.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warm air temperatures and clear skies are producing spring-like conditions. Loose wet avalanches may begin small but can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Sunny, light to moderate southwesterly winds, freezing level around 3000 m.SATURDAY: Increasing cloud with trace precipitation, moderate to strong southwesterly winds, freezing level around 2500 m.SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, light to moderate southwesterly winds, freezing level around 3400 m.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed within the region on Wednesday. Widespread pin-wheeling and snowballing was observed from steep, sun-exposed terrain. One wet slab was triggered from a loose wet avalanche around treeline, which was suspected to have released on a late-November rain crust.

Snowpack Summary

Dramatic warming and clear skies have caused widespread melting of the surface snow, especially on south-facing slopes. Crusts may form overnight but they will melt quickly in the mornings. Surface hoar is growing at and near treeline in shady locations and during the nights, but it may melt with the warm temperatures. The 40-60 cm of storm snow that fell last week is rapidly settling and generally bonding well to the late-November rain crusts. At high elevations, shifting winds (first from the south, and more recently from the north) have blown snow around in exposed areas creating drifts and scoured areas.

Regions covered