Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada zryan, Avalanche Canada

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Mushy snow remains down low, up high it will be crusty.

Thin slabs may exist and wet avalanches could persist.

Travel conditions will be tricky, trust me.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The natural avalanche cycle observed on the weekend and earlier in the week due to the warming event has begun to taper with cooling temperatures. Numerous large (size 2-3.5) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches have been reported from all aspects and elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Moist or crusty snow surfaces exist from recent rain and warm temperatures. Up to 10 cm of new snow may overlie a crust in the alpine. At lower elevations the snowpack is isothermal.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has producing large slab avalanches failing down to the early/mid January persistent weak crust/facet layer (30-70 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down). This activity is expected to taper with cooling temperatures.

The snowpack depth is roughly 150 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with light rain or snow, up to 5 mm. Alpine wind south 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow, less than 5 mm. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind northwest 15 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. freezing level dropping to 1000 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C. freezing level dropping to 500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

In the alpine, pockets of wind-transported dry snow may form small but reactive wind slabs overlying a crust.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

At lower elevations where the snowpack may remain saturated from rain and warm temperatures, wet loose avalanches may continue to occur and could entrain significant mass, resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2024 4:00PM

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