Avalanche Forecast
Sea To Sky
Precipitation is coming Friday and will intensify in the afternoon and evening. This will be accompanied by strong southwest wind. As the precipitation accumulates, the avalanche danger will rise.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
- Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
- Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all strong inicators of unstable snowpack.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A weak layer buried 60 to 90 cm is still surprising people and producing large and destructive avalanches. Be particularly cautious around upper treeline and alpine terrain on shady aspects, where this layer is most likely to be a problem.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices, which could trigger persistent slabs.
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagation due to the presence of buried weak layers.
- Avoid steep terrain or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday there were several explosives triggered storm slab avalanches to size 1 and 1.5. On Tuesday, limited alpine observations existed due to weather. Above 1900 m skier triggered isolated slabs up to size 1 were easily triggered. At lower elevations small loose wet natural avalanche activity occurred.
Avalanche activity will be on the rise with the incoming storm on Friday leading into Saturday. Its still winter out there!
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures and rain have moistened the snow surface on all aspects and at all elevations with new snow accumulations in the alpine up to 15 cm and building. Reactive storm slabs and wind slabs are building with continued snow and strong southwest winds. Ridgelines are heavily corniced and if they fail they would act as a trigger on the slope below.
A weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or a melt-freeze crust from late March is now buried about 60 to 120 cm down. This layer is spotty in its distribution but has recently produced large avalanches. It is mostly likely to be problematic on west, north, and east aspects between 1900 m and 2250 m. Below this, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Snow, accumulation 25-35cm / Strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1400 m
SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries and some sunny breaks/ Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -4 / Freezing level 1400 m
SUNDAY: Flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 2 / Freezing level 1600m
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.
Storm slabs are building at upper elevations. Slabs will be thicker in lee features, as the snow will fall with strong southwest winds. Rain at lower elevations will weaken surface snow and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches.