Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 4th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
JH,
Avalanche Canada
Recent snow and wind have created fresh storm slabs that are sensitive to human triggering at all elevations.
Practice good group management and be aware of other people above and below you.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Today's field team found reactive storm slabs in the top 40cm of snow up to size 1 while skiing tree line and below in the Hermit area.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred overnight on Friday into early Saturday morning with numerous avalanches size 2-3.5 throughout the highway corridor.
On Friday skiers reported size 2 natural avalanches on the SE face of Ross Peak and Bruins Peak.
Snowpack Summary
30-60cm of accumulated storm snow and wind have formed a storm slab. Expect this slab to be deeper in wind-loaded areas.
The mid-snowpack is mainly rounded grains and strong.
The Nov 17 deep persistent layer is near the base of the snowpack and is mainly facetted with a decomposing crust in some locations.
Weather Summary
Sunday will be cloudy with isolated flurries with ~5cm of accumulation, an alpine high of -4 and 20-50km/hr Westerly winds.
5cm on Monday and 20cm on Tuesday with cooling temps and 20-55km/hr winds.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Low density storm snow, moderate/strong ridge-top winds, and warmer temperatures are creating slabs in the upper snowpack. Watch for signs of instability such as shooting cracks and recent avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
This layer has been mainly dormant for the last few weeks, but should remain as one of your concerns when entering new terrain or large open features. Watch for steep, unsupported, thin rocky areas where this layer could be activated.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 5th, 2023 4:00PM
