Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 6th, 2025 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Cold temperatures are softening the upper snowpack, avalanches are most likely where the snowpack feels “slabby”

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday 1 size 2.5 remotely triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was on a northwest aspect in the alpine and ran on the surface hoar from late January. A few natural wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were also reported.

No new slab avalanches were reported on Tuesday but numerous dry loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed in steep alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme northeast outflow wind has scour windward terrain at all elevations. In sheltered terrain 20 to 40 cm of snow overlies a surface hoar layer from late January.

Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 30 to 50 cm deep.

A layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried  100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Two surface hoar layers from January can be found in the upper snowpack in sheltered terrain. These layers have produced large rider triggered avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong outflow (northeast) wind has formed wind slabs on south and west aspects at all elevations.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 7th, 2025 4:00PM

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