Avalanche Forecast

Sea To Sky

Date issued

Dec 11, 2017 - 4:39 PM

Valid until

Dec 12, 2017 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

jmcbride

With warm temperatures and spring-like conditions, watch for moist and wet snow as crusts breakdown during the day.

Regular season
Monday - December 11, 2017
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Tuesday - December 12, 2017
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Wednesday - December 13, 2017
Alpine

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

With daytime warming loose wet avalanches may still be a lingering problem on steep or unsupported terrain features. These releases may start small but can gain mass quickly.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps, where small avalanches may have severe consequences.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous small to large loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed on solar aspects last week as well as a small natural wind slab avalanche in steep terrain on a northerly aspect in the alpine on Saturday. Warming and cloud cover on Sunday produced pinwheeling and snowballing on all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temperatures have created a spring-like, melt-freeze cycle on all aspects with the overnight crust breaking down quickly due to the ongoing sunny warm weather. Surface hoar and surface facets may still exist in shaded areas on north aspects. The upper snowpack is well settled and bonding well to the late-November rain crusts although faceting has been noted around these crusts. The lower snowpack is well settled.

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperature +2. Freezing level 2000m.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the northeast. Alpine temperature +3. Freezing level 2500m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the northwest. Alpine temperature +5. Freezing level 3200m.

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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