Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Apr 15 – 16, 2017Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The next big change is on Sunday: Sunny, warm weather will be driving avalanche problems.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Shifting wind directions have created fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Where they exist, cornices pose a significant hazard and should be avoided, especially when the sun comes out in full force.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warm temperatures and sunshine will make the snow heavy, wet and cohesionless on Sunday. Even small slides can have serious consequences.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

The clouds will clear out Saturday evening, giving way to pleasant weather on Easter Sunday. Back to wet spring weather on Monday.SUNDAY: Sunshine in the morning, clouding over in the afternoon. Freezing level rising to 1800 m, highs near +3. Winds light southerly.MONDAY: Rain (5-10mm) up to 1600m, with wet snow higher up. Winds 20-30 km/h from the south.TUESDAY: Wet snow or rain. Freezing level around 1500 m. Winds moderate southwesterly.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, explosives control work was able to trigger a Size 2 storm slab on a northwest facing aspect in the alpine near Whistler. Skiers were also able to trigger several Size 1 soft slabs in steep leeward alpine terrain. Expect avalanche activity to increase with the warm weather on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

We've had 20-30 cm of settling storm snow above 1500m. Winds were moderate to strong from a variety of directions and have created fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain at treeline and above. On Sunday the sun will come out in full force - it's a good time to remember that cornices remain large in some areas and could trigger large avalanches when they fail (especially when warmed by the sun). The fatal accident near Lions Bay a week ago illustrates the danger of cornices breaking off, and the large avalanches they can trigger.

Regions covered