Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the complexity of the snowpack’s structure. Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods, light wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around +3 C, freezing level at 2600 m with a weak temperature inversion.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of snow, 50 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C, freezing level lowering to 1100 m.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries, 50 km/h wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -4 C, freezing level at 1000 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy, 20-40 cm of snow, 40 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -4 C, freezing level at 1000 m.

On Sunday, a few natural and skier triggered slab avalanches of size 1-2 were observed. Several explosive triggered slab avalanches and cornices to size 1-2 were reported. The cornices triggered small slabs on the slopes below which were up to 30 cm thick and ran on a facet/crust layer.

On Saturday, several natural avalanches up to size 2 were reported. A small slab avalanche (size 1.5) was triggered remotely by skiers on an unsupported north facing slope in the alpine. It was 20-30 cm thick. 

Strong southerly winds transported the recent storm snow. This new snow layer is 10 - 70 cm thick depending on the amount of wind affect. Underneath this new snow is a hard crust that formed in late November. The snow above this crust is weak and provides a bed surface for avalanches to run on. Recent snowpack tests have shown notable results on this facet/crust layer. Whumpfing and shooting cracks were reported in the alpine. The snowpack we are seeing at the moment is unusually shallow and weak for the Sea to Sky region.

Currently, typical snowpack depths in the alpine range between 50 and 180 cm, depending on the amount of wind affect. Snowpack depths taper quickly with elevation as most below treeline terrain is still below the threshold for avalanches.