Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 2nd, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Strong east winds are reverse-loading the recent storm snow in exposed areas.

Slab avalanches remain reactive to riders.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several Na and human-triggered size 2 avalanches have been reported since Friday. The avalanches are releasing on surface hoar below the storm snow. This MIN from the Pass Lake area is a good example of how touchy this problem is.

Snowpack Summary

Exposed areas are heavily wind-affected. Up to 50 cm of new snow has fallen since Wednesday. The new snow is bonding poorly to old snow surfaces, which include a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes, large surface hoar and/or facets on shaded slopes, and wind-affected snow in exposed terrain at ridgelines.

A widespread crust with facets and/or surface hoar, buried in mid-January, is approximately 60 to 120 cm below the surface.

The lower snowpack is well-settled.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -27 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -26 °C.

Tuesday

Scattered cloud. 30 to 60 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Wednesday

Few clouds. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong east winds have reverse loaded exposed alpine and treeline features.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

A slab overlies a layer of surface hoar, facets and/or a crust. Use conservative terrain choices while this problem persists.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2025 4:00PM

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