Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 7th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
AB,
Avalanche Canada
Areas near Bow Summit on 93N have already received 20cm of new storm snow. More snow is expected overnight into Wednesday. The danger rating is going to HIGH. Avoid avalanche terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Parks Canada forecasters triggered a fresh size 1 wind slab on Dolomite shoulder today 60 to 80cm deep. Sunshine patrol also triggered 2 size 1 wind slabs. Forecasters anticipate that avalanche activity will increase on Wednesday due to incoming snow Tuesday overnight.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of new snow has fallen on 93N as of Tues afternoon, much less in the rest of the forecast area. There are reactive wind slabs in lee alpine areas. The upper snowpack has several crusts and weak interfaces from January down 25-70cm. The Nov 16 deep persistent facet layer is down 40-110 cm and continues to produce sudden test results.
Weather Summary
Cooling temperatures with the ridge being around -15 and the valley about -6 on Wednesday. Incoming snowfall will vary across the region with more accumulating in the north (up to 20cm). Wind will remain elevated and not come below 40km/hr from the SW. Winds will peak at roughly 80km/hr from the SW early morning hours on Wednesday.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Small amounts of new snow with more snow Tuesday night combined with South Westerly wind will form fresh windslabs in lee areas. Wind slab depth will be highly variable on Wednesday due to different snow fall amounts overnight.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The lower snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar with the upper snowpack forming a 50 to 120 cm thick slab above this weakness. Recent storms will add snow load and potentially increase the likelihood of triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Low density snow (20+cm) has fallen near bow summit on Tuesday. More snow is expected Tuesday night. Small loose dry avalanches are to be expected until the storm has a chance to settle.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 8th, 2023 4:00PM
