Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Dec 18 – 19, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–5
    Heavy snow and strong winds are likely to create widespread instabilities. Be alert for wind slabs behind ridges and ribs. Soft slabs or sluffs can be found on steep terrain sheltered from the wind.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Strong S winds. Alpine temp -8. Heavy snow.Thursday: Light to moderate SE-SW winds. Alpine temp -9. Moderate to heavy snow.Friday: Light to moderate SE winds. Very light snow.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-1.5 soft slabs and loose snow avalanches were triggered naturally and by skiers on Monday. In some wind-affected areas, soft slabs were propagating widely.

Snowpack Summary

Expect new storm slabs and wind slabs to form on a widespread basis on Wednesday. A previous 40-80 cm of recent storm snow has been shifted into wind slabs on slopes lee to SE to SW winds. A couple of layers of surface hoar were buried last week in some areas. Snowpack test results on the surface hoar suggest an improving bond. The mid-pack is reported to be well settled and strong. A deeper layer of surface hoar from late November has been found intact or decomposing in some locations down a metre or more. The early November crust/facet combination near the base of the snowpack seems to be dormant. Triggering one of these persistent weak layers from a shallow snowpack area, or with a heavy trigger, remains possible.

Regions covered