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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 8th, 2020–Feb 9th, 2020
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

The low density snow that we've been receiving incrementally since last weekend has begun to reach threshold for large loose dry avalanches, manage terrain appropriately.

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries today, light winds from the NE. Daytime high will be -8 C at treeline.

Clearing tonight will give cooling temps, Treeline will reach a low of -11 C overnight, winds remain light from the North.

Sunday will be mostly cloudy with flurries, moderate-strong Westerly winds, and treeline temps of up to -9 C.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of low density snow overnight brings totals to 35+cm of snowfall since the atmospheric river event last weekend. Last nights snow overlies previous pockets of windslab from SW winds at upper elevations, and a thin suncrust on steep solar aspects. Expect dust on crust/rugged travel on all but smooth slopes at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

A small natural avalanche failed as a windslab in the MacDonald gullies on Friday.

On Thursday cornice fall triggered a large slab avalanche (size 2.5) on the N. face of Cheops; explosive testing at treeline produced small-large slab avalanches; and our neighbors reported skier triggering small-large windslabs in exposed treeline and alpine terrain.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Loose Dry

New snow will be reactive today, and could run fast and far on slopes where it overlies previous firm surfaces.

  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Wind Slabs

New snow may hide windslabs from previous moderate to strong winds - these formed in immediate lees, and cross-loaded terrain features in the alpine and in open treeline areas.

  • Use safe ski cutting techniques to enter your line.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Cornices

Cornices have grown significantly thanks to our Atmospheric River last weekend. These are still susceptible to fail naturally, and have the potential to trigger large avalanches.

  • Stay well back from the leeward side of corniced ridgecrests.
  • Minimize exposure to corniced features.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5