Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Nov 28, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

Storm snow amounts are uncertain. The new snow may bond poorly to underlying crust surfaces. If more than 30 cm new snow arrives, consider the avalanche danger to be HIGH.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Powerful southerly winds formed wind slabs in lee terrain at higher elevations as the storm ended on Sunday. Continued winds and light snowfall will contribute to the problem and keep slabs touchy over the near term.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: 15-20 cm new snow with freezing levels around 1200 m. Winds strong southerly in the morning, diminishing to light westerly in the afternoon.Wednesday: 5-10 cm or so new snow with freezing levels around 1200 m. Winds moderate to strong southwesterly.Thursday: 10-20 cm new snow. Freezing levels around 1200 m. Strong southerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches were reported up to size 2.5 on Sunday. Activity diminished on Monday following a drying and cooling trend, but is likely to pick up again, especially in steep, wind affected terrain for Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Recent rain soaked the upper snowpack at all elevations before depositing roughly 5-10 cm of heavily wind affected new snow at higher elevations. In areas where extreme south winds have not scoured it away, approximately 20-30 cm of recent snow overlies the November 23 crust. This 5-10 cm thick crust can be found on all aspects above 1400 m, is present at the surface in windward areas, and overlies a generally rain-saturated snowpack. In high alpine and glaciated terrain a layer of weak sugary crystals that was buried on November 9th exists above a crust near the base of the snowpack. This interface is now buried 150-240 cm deep.

Regions covered