Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 2nd, 2020 8:12AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
jonas hoke,
Parks Canada
Yesterdays 2000m freezing level and rain will make rugged travel the biggest hazard below treeline. Don't get complacent as a result, it is still winter in the alpine.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A brief bout of high pressure gives relatively stable weather and cold temps until mid week.
Today: Sunny periods. Treeline temps High -14 °C. Light SW ridge wind.
Tonight: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Treeline temps Low -14 °C. Light SW ridge wind.
Monday: Cloudy periods with isolated flurries. Treeline temps -14 °C to -17°C. Light W wind.
Snowpack Summary
Yesterdays intense storm brought Strong-Extreme winds (recorded gusts of up to 180km/hr), up to 70mm of precipitation, and a 12hr period of a 2000m freezing level. Expect rugged travel with 10-15cm of snow on a crust below treeline, and windslab well into lees as well as huge fresh cornices at treeline and in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread cycle of large to very large natural avalanches occurred during yesterdays storm. Avalanche control using artillery produced numerous size 3-3.5 avalanches from all aspects, these where mostly starting as storm slab avalanches and scrapping to ground and channeling in gullies as they gained mass in the wet snow at lower elevations.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh pockets of soft windslab that formed late in the storm will be reactive today. The deep and stiff widespread windslab that formed mid storm will be more stubborn, but may remain senstive to human and cornice triggering in the alpine.
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices will have grown significantly in the past 48hrs and deserve a wide berth. Stay well back from corniced ridges, and do not hang out anywhere beneath them.
- Avoid travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2020 8:00AM
