Avalanche Forecast
Sea To Sky
Natural avalanche activity is expected to tapper off early Friday morning, but human triggered avalanches remain possible or even likely in wind loaded features, especially those that are steep and unsupported.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee alpine and treeline terrain where human triggering is most likely.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday small loose dry avalanches were reported running in steep terrain features. Control work on Thursday produced soft storm slabs to size 1 in the alpine with crowns up to 45cm in depth. Natural avalanches to size 1 were also observed.
Snowpack Summary
As of Thursday afternoon the region has picked up 10 to 30 cm of new snow accompanied by moderate to strong winds out of the south/southwest. Snowfall is expected to continue through Thursday night. The new snow covers a medley of old surfaces which include stubborn wind slabs and wind-scoured exposed crust in the alpine, and soft unconsolidated snow in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
Up to 60 cm below the surface you'll likely find a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity, but could come to life with the additional load of new snowfall, especially in areas where loose facets exist above the crust.
Beneath the December 15th layer, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
Weather Forecast
Most of BC finds itself under the influence of a massive arctic high-pressure system that has enveloped the province in an unseasonably cold, dry arctic air mass. In contrast, a milder, moisture-laden stream of air has taken aim at southwestern BC. These two air masses are set to clash over southern BC through Friday night, producing potentially heavy snowfall along the south coast before expected clearing begins on Saturday.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong west wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.
FRIDAY: Overcast, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate southwest wind, trace of snow possible.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Freezing level at valley bottom, 5 to 30 cm of snow possible.
SATURDAY: Skies clearing throughout the day, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate NW wind, no snow expected.
SUNDAY: Clear skies, freezing level at valley bottom, light variable wind, no snow expected.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Sea To Sky URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/sea-to-sky.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
A brief break in the storm cycle Friday should begin to reduce the likelihood of human triggered avalanches, but you need to remain vigilant in your travel practices, especially when it comes to convexities, terrain traps and wind loaded slopes.