Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 20th, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Storm snow is forming slabs on underlying soft snow, take extra care around ridgelines where the wind may have formed deeper pockets of snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

At the time of publishing, no new avalanches were reported in the past 7 days.

Snowpack Summary

An average of 20 cm of generally upside-down storm snow has fallen with variable wind, potentially forming wind slab on all aspects. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it may have been blown down to the underlying crust.

In the Manning park area there has been less snow and significantly less wind.

At lower elevations a new crust is on or near the surface, and the new snow is wet and heavy.

A crust from December is buried 80 to 140 cm deep, with facets around it in shallow snowpack areas. Otherwise, the lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with up to 10 mm of mixed precipitation. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with 5 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 25 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Warming temperatures combined with new snow have increased the slab properties in the snowpack. Expect deeper deposits in lee areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Back off of slopes as temperatures rise and snow surface becomes wet. Watch for signs of warming such as snow shedding off trees and pinwheeling off of steep slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 21st, 2025 4:00PM

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