Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2024 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada swerner, Avalanche Canada

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Until cold temperatures lock in this warm and wet snowpack, dangerous avalanche conditions and poor riding quality will exist.

Human triggered avalanches are possible.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past three days, a widespread avalanche cycle occurred and numerous (size 2-4) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches were seen from all aspects and elevations. Yesterday, a skier remotely triggered (from 50 m away) a size 4 persistent slab avalanche.

Until colder temperatures arrive and stabilize the snowpack, rider-triggered avalanches remain likely. Avoid overhead exposure, very large avalanches have the potential to run to valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

In the high alpine isolated pockets of wind-transported dry snow exists. A thin, breakable crust exists above 2300 m with moist snow under the crust. Wet, saturated snow 2200 m and below.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has been actively producing avalanches failing down to the early and mid January crust/facet layer (30-80 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down) which remains a concern above 2000 m in shallow snowpack areas.

The lower snowpack is characterized by weak basal facets in many areas.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy, a trace of new snow, treeline temperatures near -1°C, south alpine wind 20 gusting to 45 km/h, freezing level around 1700 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries up to 3-7 cm, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1600 m.

Friday

Cloudy with light snow, treeline temperatures near -2°C, southerly alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing levels near 1600 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, a trace of new snow, treeline temperatures near -4°C, southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

Wet Slabs

An icon showing Wet Slabs

Wet slab avalanches have been failing on or stepping down to buried weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack resulting in very large avalanches running to valley bottom.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Basal facets remain a concern in steep, rocky alpine features with thin-to-thick snowpack transitions. Avalanches triggered on this layer have been large and destructive.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

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

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