Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 3rd, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada zryan, Avalanche Canada

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Winter is back! ❄️ Rugged travel down low could be rewarded with good riding up high.

Evaluate how new snow is bonding to the crust and avoid areas where it feels stiff or slabby.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We expect avalanche activity to increase on Sunday with cooler temperatures and fresh snowfall. As you gain elevation, evaluate how new snow is bonding to the crust and look for signs of instability.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of new snow overlies a crust at most elevations. Below 1000 m surface snow may remain moist or wet.

A layer of facets (and small surface hoar in some areas) is buried 30-60 cm deep and a layer of facets on a crust is buried 80-100 cm deep. While cooler temperatures have allowed these layers to strengthen we continue to monitor them for signs of reactivity.

The snowpack depth at treeline is roughly 100 to 150 cm

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with snowfall, 5 to 15 cm of accumulation. Alpine wind northeast 5 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with continued snowfall, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind east 5 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C, freezing level 1200 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine wind southeast 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C, freezing level 1300 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with snowfall, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Watch for reactivity in wind-affected features. Although storm totals are small, slabs may slide easily on the crust below.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

The likelihood of avalanches on buried weak layers is decreasing, but we are uncertain how quickly. High-consequence slopes should be approached with caution.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 4th, 2024 4:00PM

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