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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 1st, 2023–Feb 2nd, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
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: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Use caution when entering exposed terrain where there could be new or building wind slabs.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One skier triggered size 1 avalanche occurred in the Buck Lake area on Jan 31st.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Incremental loading over the previous three days bringing around 6cm of new snow. Near the Columbia Icefields strong winds are creating wind slab in the alpine and into exposed tree line. A thin melt freeze crust down 25cm is showing results in snow pit tests below this layer on facets. Generally, the bottom of the snowpack is weak facets and depth hoar. The snowpack ranges from 50 to 120cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -8 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with sunny periods.

Precipitation: Nil.

Alpine temperature: Low -11 °C, High -7 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom.

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Strong to extreme winds near the icefields are building wind slabs with the recent snow. Watch for wind slab development on top of the Jan 27th melt freeze crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2