Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 1st, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
If you venture out in the cold, even a small issue can become a big problem.
Avalanches are of greatest concern in areas with a transition from shallow to deep snow.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported this week.
There have been no recent reports of persistent slab avalanches, but uncertainty remains. Snowpack test results and whumpfing suggest it may still be triggerable in areas that are shallow and rocky.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 25 cm of new snow fell between Monday and Wednesday. Expect lesser amounts of new snow the further inland you go. It fell with strong southwest wind that has switched to strong northeast. Watch for reverse loaded slopes hiding pockets of hard windslab.
A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer exists on all aspects up to around 1700 m.
At the highway elevation the snow is 120 cm deep and in the alpine there is more than 200 cm.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Clear. 50 to 70 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -30 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 50 to 70 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 50 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -24 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly clear. 40 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
The early December weak layer may still be triggered in shallow, thin-to-thick areas, or with large loads like a cornice or avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
New wind slabs are building on non-typical areas with northeasterly outflow winds.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2025 4:00PM
