Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 2nd, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
zryan,
Avalanche Canada
Expect challenging travel navigating refrozen surfaces and avalanche debris.
At higher elevations, evaluate how the new snow is bonding to the crust and avoid freshly wind-loaded areas.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The natural avalanche cycle observed last week due to the warming event has tapered with cooling temperatures. Numerous large (size 2-3.5) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches were reported from all aspects and elevations.
Moving forward riders should evaluate how new snow is bonding to the crust and avoid freshly wind-loaded areas.
Snowpack Summary
Cooling temperatures have left a surface crust of varying thickness above 1000 m. At upper elevations, up to 15 cm of dry snow may exist on top of this crust. Below 1000 m, the snowpack remains wet and isothermal.
The stress of recent load (warm, wet upper snowpack) produced large slab avalanches failing down to the mid-January persistent weak crust/facet layer (30-70 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down). These layers may remain a concern in the alpine where they were not significantly impacted by rain and warm temperatures.
The snowpack depth is roughly 150 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with light precipitation, up to 3 mm. Alpine wind light from the west. Treeline temperature dropping to -4 °C, freezing level falling to 1000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, up to 10 mm. Alpine wind east 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1400 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with light precipitation, up to 5 mm. Alpine wind southeast 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 C, freezing level 900 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine wind southeast 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Pockets of wind-transported dry snow may form small but reactive wind slabs overlying a crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The likelihood of avalanches failing on buried weak layers is decreasing but may remain a concern in alpine areas. High-consequence slopes should be approached with caution.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 3rd, 2024 4:00PM
