Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Forecasts are for use by experienced backcountry travelers in uncontrolled sidecountry and backcountry terrain. These forecasts and conditions do not apply to open, in-bounds terrain at ski resorts, which is subject to avalanche control by local resort ski patrol.
Avalanche Rating
Low (1)
Thursday will be the last day of low avalanche danger before a major storm moves in that night.
More Detail
To get the complete forecast with additional graphics and details, please view the Avalanche Canada Zone forecast provided by Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Discussion
Previous strong sunshine and warm temperatures formed a crust on most surfaces, except on north-facing alpine slopes, where the old snow remains soft. Facets and surface hoar have been reported developing in shady, sheltered areas. A light dusting of up to 5 cm of new snow is expected by Thursday afternoon, with significantly more arriving Thursday night and Friday. The mid and lower snowpack is dense, well-settled, and currently free of concerning layers.
Check out this MIN report from the Blackcomb backcountry on Tuesday.
Avalanche Activity
A few cornices up to size 1.5 were triggered with explosives near Whistler on Monday and Tuesday. Several naturally-triggered cornices and loose wet avalanches were also reported. They were small to large (size 1.5 to 2) and initiated on steep sun-affected alpine slopes.
With a cooling trend in the forecast, we expect avalanche activity will be unlikely on Thursday. However, as storm snow accumulates Thursday night and Friday, avalanche danger will rise accordingly.