Avalanche Forecast

High

Observations were limited due to the weather but we were able to see one size 2.5 avalanche on a NE aspects on Little Tent Ridge that had a 200m wide propagation. The suspected failure plane is the Feb 3rd Crust. We suspect that a natural cycle is still ongoing.

A late day report also came in of a sz 3.5 skier remote from 75m away near Purple knob that ran full path taking out mature timber.

55-85cm of recent snow is now overlying the Feb 3rd crust complex. Storm slabs and wind slabs can be expected in this new snow which will be easy to trigger with a skiers weight. A weak layer of facetted crystals also exists above and below this crust that has been producing moderate sheers. This new snow is beginning to overload this layer and cause a natural avalanche cycle. The November basal facets are alive and well and back on our radar as the February 2 rain crust is deteriorating and not locking in the weaknesses below as it once did. Skier weight has now been able to break through the Feb 2 rain crust in some places, which means that the basal facets can now be more easily affected.

This is a good time to avoid all avalanche terrain

Light snow will continue overnight with accumulations of around 5cm snow. Winds are forecast to become more easterly overnight with peak speeds around 40km/hr. A grey-bird day is in store again with not much in the way of sun and temperatures around -15C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.