Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2018 4:38PM

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

Avalanche Canada mbender, Avalanche Canada

Email

Sea To Sky.

A steady stream of light precipitation should fall as snow at upper elevations and begin to accumulate in the coming days.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -3  MONDAY:  Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2  TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity on Saturday was reported as thin windslabs in alpine lees to size 1 that were reactive to skier traffic.

Snowpack Summary

Rain Friday reportedly soaked the upper 15 to 20 cm of the snowpack and left all aspects with moist snow on the surface from valley bottom to at least 2000m, maybe even ridgetop. As temperatures began to cool Friday night into Saturday a thin crust formed. The crust is now buried by new snow above 1600m approximately. This new snow has been redistributed by southeast through southwest winds.Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity and is likely trending towards dormancy. Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Light snowfall coupled with moderate winds out of the southwest will likely result in wind slabs at upper elevations. These wind slabs may be sitting on a thin crust which may increase their sensitivity to human triggering.
Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2018 2:00PM

Login
Join