Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2025 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Avoid areas where the wind is actively depositing snow, wind slabs are most reactive as they are forming.

Very large avalanches are a concern in alpine terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday:

  • Recent snow and wind produced a number of large and small natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches on all aspects and at all elevations.

On Thursday:

  • Two size 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on southerly aspects in the alpine, both avalanches stepped down to layers from December. One of them was remote triggered from 30 m away!

On Wednesday:

  • A size 3 natural triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported on a north aspect in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

There has been 30 to 60 cm of new snow since Wednesday, that is being redistributed by strong north east wind, reverse loading features at all elevations.

A surface hoar layer that is between 50 - 90cm deep.

Buried weak layers from December, 150 to 250 cm deep, include crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar, and continue to produce large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly clear with flurries. 30 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -24 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 40 to 80 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -24 °C.

Friday Night

Sunny. 30 to 70 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Recent snow continues to produce natural and human triggered avalanches

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

The 150 to 250 cm deep weak layer from early December continues to produce large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2.5 - 3.5

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong outflow (northeast) wind is actively building wind slabs on south and west aspects

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2025 4:00PM

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