Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Jan 9 – 10, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Watch for sensitive wind slabs lurking below ridgecrests, behind terrain features and in cross-loaded gullies.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–6
    Primarily a concern in the northern part of the region. Difficult to trigger, but possible from an area with a shallow, rocky snowpack.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Storm slab avalanches occurred in response to new snow and rain on Sunday/Monday. Above the rain line, storm slabs will continue to be reactive for another day or so.

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure sets up over this region for Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing dry, clear weather. Treeline temperatures will hover around -8 to -10C. Winds should be generally light from the north. On Thursday, clouds will start to build ahead of a relatively weak frontal system, winds will shift round to the west and temperatures will increase to around -2C. Flurries are possible, more likely it will stay dry.

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle occurred to size 2 on steep slopes on all aspects in response to the new snow and rain on Sunday and Monday. Reports indicate activity was isolated to the dense new snow. There were no reports of activity stepping down to any of the lower weak layers in the snowpack.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline, snowpack depths are around 260cm.The upper snowpack comprises a series of storm snow layers, which have generally bonded well to each other and are now gaining strength. Rain to approximately 2000 m has left us with a moist surface layer--expect this to freeze into a hard crust as temperatures start to fall. In the alpine, above the elevation where rain fell, significant new wind slabs have developed in response to very strong southwesterly winds. Concern for lower snowpack layers remains only in low snowpack areas. Facets associated with a crust from mid-December and/or sugary facets at the base of the snowpack could be a concern in areas you know to be unusually shallow, or where you can see rocks poking up out of the snow.

Regions covered