Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Dec 31, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

The likelihood of human-triggered avalanches will increase as the storm snow settles into a consolidated slab. Be mindful that small avalanches on the surface could step down to weak layers deep in the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3.5

    A crust with weak, facetted snow above and below is buried by anywhere from 50 to 200 cm of snow.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    The new snow has been accompanied by moderate to strong winds and potentially overlies a melt freeze crust. If triggered storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in very large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several large (size 2 to 2.5) slab avalanches were produced during explosive control work on Thursday. All in alpine terrain on a variety of aspects. A number of avalanches slid on deep persistent weak layers, with crowns of 1.5 to 2 m deep.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall has been accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds since Thursday. Below the new snow is a crust at higher elevations, while at lower elevations (below roughly 1600 m) the upper snowpack remains moist. Deeper in the snowpack a series of weak layers exist consisting of crusts, facets, and buried surface hoar.

Total snow depths are roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with snow, 10 to 20 cm. Moderate southwest winds. -5 C at treeline. Freezing levels 1000 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with light snow, 5 to 10 cm. Light southwest winds. -5 to -10 at treeline. Freezing levels 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with periods of sun. No precipitation. Light southwest winds. -5 to -10 C at treeline. Freezing levels 700 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with no precipitation. Light southeast winds. -5 C at treeline. Freezing levels 800 m.

Sunday

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Regions covered