Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 4th, 2025 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

Email

Reports of avalanche activity are ongoing. Continue to make conservative terrain choices and be aware of overhead hazard. Don't let the sun entice you into hazardous conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous avalanches of all trigger types continue to be reported. Slabs have been failing up to a meter deep.

Notably, a human triggered avalanche with a burial occurred near Squamish on Tuesday. While it was a relatively small avalanche (size 1), it was consequential because of the terrain.

A very large (size 3) natural avalanche occurred near Whistler as a result of a cornice fall. Be aware of overhead hazard, especially in times of increased sun.

Snowpack Summary

50 to 80 cm of snow fell over the weekend. This snow was initially blown around by southeast winds, which have recently switched to outflow winds.

This recent snow is bonding poorly to an underlying weak layer formed during the January drought. Depending on aspect and elevation, the layer may exist as a hard crust, faceted grains and/or surface hoar.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear skies. 15 to 25 km/h outflow ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny. Light south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Thursday

Mainly sunny. Light south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday

Increasing cloudiness. 10-20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Conservative terrain selection is critical; choose gentle, low consequence lines.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Storm snow is beginning to settle and form slabs at more elevations. These slabs sit over a weak layer and remain triggerable by riders.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Outflow winds are continuing to build slabs on lee slopes. Take caution when transitioning into any wind affected terrain as winds have varied since the storm.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 5th, 2025 4:00PM

Login