Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Mar 26 – 27, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New wind slabs have formed and need more time to settle and bond.

Overnight snowfall forecast is highly variable. If you find 40 cm+ of new snow, increase danger by one step.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Cornices are large and fragile. Ongoing snow and wind are making them larger. Avoid travelling on or under them.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent storm snow and southwest winds continue to build reactive wind slabs. Avalanches are expected be larger and more likely on west through north facing slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.
  • We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, around Whistler, ski cutting produced one small (size 1) wind slab avalanche.

On Wednesday around Whistler, explosives avalanche control produced a large (size 2) Cornice release that entrained some loose dry snow on the slope below.

On Tuesday around Whistler, several small to large (size 1-1.5), rider controlled storm slab avalanches were reported, in alpine and treeline terrain, with the deepest avalanches being on north facing slopes in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm has accumulated in the past few days, with strong to extreme south west wind. Expect deeper, more reactive deposits in leeward terrain. In the alpine on windward terrain expect to find hard, wind affected snow and sastrugi.

40 to 60 cm over the past week overlies a widespread, thick and hard crust below about 2000 m, and old wind-affected snow at upper elevations.

Deeper in the snowpack, older weak layers currently buried 70–100+ cm have likely gained strength, and are not considered a problem at this time.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Regions covered