Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 4th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
Seek out low angle sheltered terrain, where the snow is soft and fluffy. Be aware of signs of instability such as whoompfs, or shooting cracks.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Over the weekend, numerous storm slab avalanches were reported size 1-2 on all aspects and elevations. They were triggered naturally, by skiers, vehicles and explosives. Some were triggered remotely or sympathetically. Slabs were up to 60 cm deep and ran on a crust or facet layer beneath the storm snow.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 120 cm of storm snow has fallen since January 31st. This new snow may contain a thin crust from a brief temperature spike on Friday. This new snow is low density and showing limited slab properties, however this may change with the continued outflow winds.
This recent snow not yet well bonded to an underlying weak layer formed during the January drought. Depending on aspect and elevation, the layer may exist as a hard crust, faceted grains and/or surface hoar.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Conservative terrain selection is critical; choose gentle, low consequence lines.
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.
- Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs sit over a weak layer and remain triggerable by riders. The most likely places to trigger an avalanche are in wind-loaded lee terrain features just below ridgetops and convex rolls.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
With up to 120 cm of low density storm snow, expect sluffing on steep terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 5th, 2025 4:00PM
