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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2020–Feb 6th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Glacier.

The hazard could rise this afternoon if the weather arrives earlier than forecasted.

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries today, moderate winds from the SW, and the freezing level will stay below valley bottom. Winds and temperatures are expected to rise around 4 pm, as a frontal passage passes over Rogers Pass. More flurries tonight and tomorrow, 5 cm on Friday, and 8cm on Saturday, with freezing levels gradually rising.

Snowpack Summary

Yesterday's moderate wind produced wind slabs on immediate lees, and cross-loaded terrain features in the alpine and exposed areas of treeline. We have received 20-30cm of low-density snow since the atmospheric river event last weekend, which brought with it:70mm of precipitation, freezing levels to 2000m and extreme winds (to 181km/hr).

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was observed in the Highway Corridor or reported from the backcountry yesterday. Helicopter control on Ross Peak Slide Path produced limited results to size 2.5, one slab failed at glacier ice for the second time this Winter.

Confidence

Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.