Avalanche forecast

Sea To Sky

Feb 22 – 23, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanches will be more likely on slopes that see direct sun on Tuesday.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Cornices are reported to be large and weak. The weight of a person may be enough to cause a cornice failure.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    The recent storm slabs continue to be reactive to human triggering especially on wind loaded slopes. If the sun shines it may have enough punch to trigger natural avalanches.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: sunny, light southeasterly winds, 1500m freezing level. WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy with flurries possible, light southwesterly winds, 1500m freezing level. THURSDAY: mainly sunny, light southwest winds, freezing level rising to 3000m.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous natural and artificially triggered storm slab avalanches were reported over the weekend. Although natural avalanche activity is now slowing, wind slab avalanches are expected to remain reactive to human-triggering. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile, and may fail under the weight of a person.

Confidence

High - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow continues to settle and gain strength, however, some lingering mid storm instabilities are still reactive to ski cutting in steeper terrain features. Ongoing southeast through southwest winds have been loading lee features in the alpine and at treeline and cornices are large and fragile. A thin breakable crust may cap moist snow on slopes that see direct sun. Several crusts can be found in the upper meter depending on elevation and aspect. The upper snow pack is sitting on a more widespread and thicker crust that extends into the alpine. In most places this crust is bridging a layer of surface hoar buried in early January. It is becoming increasingly hard to make this layer fail in snowpack tests and triggering an avalanche on it is unlikely.

Regions covered