Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 18th, 2012 9:57AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Trace amounts of snow with some clearing / light northwest winds / freezing level @ 900m Monday: trace amounts of snow / moderate westerly winds / freezing level @ 800m Tuesday: trace amounts of snow / strong northwest winds / freezing level @ 1100m

Avalanche Summary

Widespread natural, human triggered, and explosive triggered avalanche activity was observed in the Whistler area on Saturday. The avalanches were up to size 2 and occurred in response to Friday night's storm.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy snowfall and strong winds on Friday night created new wind and storm slabs and continued to cover an assortment of old snow surfaces that were first buried a little over a week ago. These old surfaces are now about 45cm down and include crusts that exist on all aspects at lower elevations and on steep solar aspects higher up. There are also surface facets on northern aspects where colder temperatures have persisted. Facets and spotty surface hoar may also exist in combination with crusts. The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well settled. The average treeline snowpack depth is about 240cm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong winds and heavy snowfall have created new and reactive wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Storm Slabs

Watch for storm slab activity on steep, unsupported terrain features. They will be especially reactive where they exist in combination with buried crusts.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 19th, 2012 9:00AM