Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 4th, 2023–Feb 5th, 2023

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

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Coquihalla, Harrison-Fraser, Manning, Skagit.

Steer clear of freshly wind loaded features. Wind loading may be found on many aspects from variable wind directions.

Head to sheltered and supported terrain features for the best chance of finding good riding conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported in the past couple days.

Last Sunday, a skier accidental wind slab avalanche was reported on a south-facing slope at 1800 m. This avalanche was 70 cm deep and is suspected to have slid on the Jan melt-freeze crust. Check out the MIN for a detailed report.

Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Southwest winds have redistributed 5-15 cm of storm snow into fresh wind slabs over previously scoured surfaces on northern aspects. On southern aspects storm snow overlies stiff wind slabs. A breakable crust exists on the surface at lower elevations and on steep solar aspects to 1800 m. Softer snow still exists in sheltered areas at treeline and below.

A melt-freeze crust from mid-January is found down 30-40 cm in many areas but up to 70 cm in wind-loaded places. Isolated weak layers may exist within the middle and lower snowpack below this, but the thick crusts sitting above them make triggering avalanches on these layers unlikely.

Snowpack depths are 150 to 200 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy skies overnight with isolated flurries possible, up to 3 cm. Freezing levels sit around 1200 m, with moderate southerly winds.

Sunday

Cloudy skies with isolated flurries possible. Trace accumulations. Freezing levels sit around 1000-1500 m. Light to moderate southwest winds.

Monday

Mostly cloudy skies with 5 cm of snow. Strong southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. Light snowfall for most areas, up to 20 cm for the Coquihalla. Freezing levels around 1500 m. Strong to extreme southwest winds.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Avoid freshly loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.

New wind slabs sit over a variety of wind-affected surfaces including stiff wind slabs covering a thin temperature crust on southerly slopes from last week's northerly winds.

Wind slabs may step down to the mid January melt freeze crust, creating larger avalanches than expected.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2