Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Jan 5 – 6, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

With a forecast of fresh snow falling with strong winds, expect to find an increasingly reactive snowpack and avalanche hazard highest at the end of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    This problem is trending towards dormant, especially where a thick supportive crust is found down 20-40 cm (south of Whistler, this supportive crust reaches mountain tops). A heavy input of new snow may test this layer.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Expect to find increasingly reactive slabs as fresh snow accumulates with strong and gusty southwest winds. Avalanche hazard will be highest at the end of the day.

Confidence

High

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow by Friday morning. Moderate and increasing southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -8 °C.

Friday

Snowing. 15-30 cm new snow accumlating by 4pm. Very strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. Up to 65 mm of precipitation in 48 hrs (falling as snow and ending early morning). Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -6 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and clouds. no precipitation. Light northt ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.

Regions covered