Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 5th, 2021 8:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.
Andrew Jones,
Spacial variability is the name of the game right now. The recent storm snow remains reactive in isolated locations in the Park. Use safe travel practices to mitigate the uncertainty.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Today will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and trace amounts of accumulation. The alpine high will reach -8c with winds from the west, 20km/h gusting to 65km/h. Light accumulation is expected for the weekend before an high-pressure arctic outflow sends temperatures plummeting late Sunday. Models show temps dropping to -28 next week.
Snowpack Summary
Storm slabs continue to receive new inputs in the form of fresh snow and wind. 60+ cm of storm snow from earlier this week sits on Surface Hoar, Crusts, and or Facets depending on elevation and aspect, on what is being called the January 24th persistent weak layer. The mid and lower snowpack is quite strong, with no current concerns.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed in the highway corridor however visibility was limited. A field team in the Connaught Creek drainage observed several size 3 avalanches from the February 2 storm. They observed a new size 2.5 in Cheops N 4 from yesterday morning and heard an audible avalanche from Cheops N around mid-day.
Confidence
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The January 24th layer is made up of Surface Hoar, Facets and Crusts (depending on elevation and aspect). It is buried 60-80cm below the surface. This layer remains reactive to human triggers.
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Storm Slabs
New snow and wind continue to add to the ongoing storm slab problem from the Feb 2 storm. These slabs are most reactive in the alpine and exposed areas of Treeline.
- Use caution in wind effected areas where storm slabs may be more sensitive to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 6th, 2021 8:00AM
