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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 2nd, 2025–Feb 3rd, 2025
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

The 10-15cm of new snow will improve the skiing. Be vigilant for newly formed windslabs. The frigid temperatures will remain for this week.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

There was no patrol on Sunday and nothing new was reported. Saturday's Maligne and Icefield patrols' noted very little new activity. One loose dry size 1.5 observed on Saskatchewan North avalanche path. On Thursday, Marmot Basin triggered a size 2 avalanche failing on the deep basal layer using explosives. Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 as well as smaller loose dry avalanches were observed in the Icefields area on January 29th.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of fresh soft snow is on a variety of surfaces depending on location, including melt freeze crusts, sun crusts, hard wind slabs, and soft faceted snow. These overlie a generally weak and faceted mid-pack. At the bottom of the snowpack are the early season crusts, which are faceting and surrounded by large depth hoar. The snowpack is 70-130 cm in depth at tree line, and thins quickly below.

Weather Summary

Sunday night will be clear and -27 °C. Monday to Thursday is forecasted to be mainly sunny, some clouds, no new snow, light winds, and -14 to -33 °C.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent 10-20cm of new snow and winds formed windslabs in lee features particularly at ridgetops. They appear to be stubborn to trigger.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for a long time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3