Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 16th, 2015 8:01AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Sea To Sky.

Give recently wind-loaded slopes a wide berth.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Expect light snowfall until late Saturday, when the next organised storm system brings 20-30cm snow with moderate to strong SW winds. The freezing level is expected to peak at around 1300m during this storm. Snow and wind should both gradually ease through Monday.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives and skiers triggered size 1 wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded terrain on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accompanied by strong S-SW winds is building wind slabs above a hard crust, which exists above about 1500 metres. (Below about 1500 m, the crust is breakable.) The new snow may have buried surface hoar on some slopes, possibly forming a poor bond.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Continued strong winds from the south to south-west will form ever-deepening wind slabs on lee slopes. These may bond poorly to a smooth crust.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Jan 17th, 2015 2:00PM