Avalanche Forecast
Sea To Sky
A steady stream of light precipitation should fall as snow at upper elevations and begin to accumulate in the coming days.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity on Saturday was reported as thin windslabs in alpine lees to size 1 that were reactive to skier traffic.
Snowpack Summary
Rain Friday reportedly soaked the upper 15 to 20 cm of the snowpack and left all aspects with moist snow on the surface from valley bottom to at least 2000m, maybe even ridgetop. As temperatures began to cool Friday night into Saturday a thin crust formed. The crust is now buried by new snow above 1600m approximately. This new snow has been redistributed by southeast through southwest winds.
Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity and is likely trending towards dormancy. Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -3
MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2
TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3
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Light snowfall coupled with moderate winds out of the southwest will likely result in wind slabs at upper elevations. These wind slabs may be sitting on a thin crust which may increase their sensitivity to human triggering.