Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2024 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Loose Wet, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada matt, Avalanche Canada

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Heat has, and will continue to weaken the snowpack until the next cool off this week-end. Right now its probably best to focus on non avalanche related activities.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No field trip today, but its expected that the loose wet avalanches have continued through the day.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps are making the snowpack isothermal in lower elevation areas and making the top 10-30cm moist at treeline and above. Light overnight freezes are helping, but they just can't compete with the daytime highs. Every day the snowpack is becoming weaker and weaker. This warmth induced rapid settlement is overloading the weak basal facets, and in some areas triggering full depth avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at this time.

Weather Summary

It's not very often that we discuss freezing levels in early February...yet here we are. Tomorrow will start at -4 and rise to +2 by mid afternoon. Food for thought: as I write this Mud lake is sitting at an impossible +7! Tomorrow could be much warmer than predicted. The rest of the weather news isn't much more inspiring. Light winds from the south, broken to overcast cloud cover and no snow.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Surface snow becoming moist and wet with high freezing levels.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Persistent and wet slabs have been seen to be failing on the arctic facets down 30-50cm

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Recent evidence exists of avalanche failing in the basal facets and depth hoar close to ground.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 1st, 2024 4:00PM

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