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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 10th, 2025–Jan 11th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Sea To Sky, Brandywine, Garibaldi, Homathko, Spearhead, Tantalus, Sky Pilot.

Strong sun may rapidly increase avalanche danger on steep solar slopes.

Pay attention to changing conditions and don't let good visibility lure you into dangerous terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday near Whistler, natural and human-triggered storm slabs were reported from all elevations and aspects up to size 1.5. A size 2 natural was observed on a south-facing aspect near Rainbow Mountain, likely triggered by strong solar radiation.

Keep your guard up on Saturday. Storm slabs are expected to remain reactive to triggering. Natural activity can be expected on steep south-facing terrain during periods of strong sun.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of new snow arrived Friday night with strong southeast switching to northwest wind creating wind-affected surfaces and wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain.

This new snow overlies a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed areas.

An otherwise right-side-up snowpack appears to be bonding well to a crust buried 70 to 100 cm deep. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and bonded with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly clear with valley could. 15 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny with valley cloud. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday

Mostly sunny with valley cloud. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday

Increasing cloud cover. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rising to 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.