Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 3rd, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
bchristie,
Avalanche Canada
Use extra caution on wind-loaded slopes and near ridgetops. Continued snowfall and southwest wind is building reactive wind slabs. Deeper weak layers have not produced recent avalanches, but encourage adding an extra layer of caution to your decision making.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Riders and explosives continue to trigger small (size 1 to 1.5) loose dry and wind slabs within the recent storm snow. Wind slabs may remain active in steep lee and cross-loaded terrain at higher elevations.
Continue to avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin, as these are the most likely areas to trigger deep weak layers.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 15 cm of recent soft snow has been blown into wind slabs in cross-loaded and lee terrain features from sustained southwest wind. This snow rests on small surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered terrain. The surface hoar rests on previously wind-affected snow at higher elevations, faceted soft snow in wind-sheltered terrain, and a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes and below approximately 1800 m.
A surface hoar layer buried in early January is 40 to 80 cm deep. Its distribution is spotty, but it can still be found in wind-sheltered and shaded terrain features.
The lower snowpack contains weak and faceted grains.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -7 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy. 0-3 cm of snow expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, becoming light south by the afternoon. Freezing level rising to between 1250 m and 1500 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 2-10 cm of snow expected, on the higher end in the west side of the forecast region. moderate west and northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1500 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Moderate to strong west and southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1250 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Riders could trigger wind slabs in leeward and cross-loaded terrain features near ridgetops due to recent snow and variable wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of surface hoar is buried around 40 to 80 cm. It is most likely preserved in open trees in terrain protected from wind and sun effects.
The lower snowpack is comprised of weak, faceted grains that could be triggered in shallow, rocky terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 4th, 2023 4:00PM
