Avalanche Forecast
Sea To Sky
The snow is heavily wind-affected. Stick to sheltered trees to find the best and safest riding.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Sheltered slopes at lower elevations will offer the best riding.
- Approach steep lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Large cornices have formed along ridgelines. Cornices are inherently unstable, unpredictable, and demand respect.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize overhead exposure to cornices above.
- Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Firm cornices may pull back into flat terrain at ridgetop if they fail.
Avalanche Summary
Several small wind slabs (size 1) were reported in alpine terrain on Sunday, including a few that ran on buried sun crusts that were up to 60 cm deep on west and south aspects. The wind slabs were reactive to skier and explosive triggers.
Triggering wind slabs will remain possible throughout the upcoming week.
Snowpack Summary
In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-40 cm of low density snow. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m, which has supported some wide propagations in recent storm slab avalanches. Deeper in the snowpack, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm could potentially wake up this layer.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Sunny, light north wind, alpine high temperatures around -12 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, moderate north wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, moderate north wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
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Strong winds from the north have blown recent snow into touchy slabs at higher elevations.