Avalanche forecast

Microwave-Sinclair

Feb 3 – 4, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate

Highlights

Seek areas where the wind is not actively depositing snow.

The best riding will be in zones protected from the wind with no overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Moderate north easterly winds have reverse loaded south aspect slopes. New and reactive wind slabs will continue to develop as these winds are forecast to persist.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    A 50 to 100 cm deep weak layer from early December, may be possible to trigger on steep, rocky or convex slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the last week.

During the last avalanche cycle, wind slabs were able to step down to weak layers from December.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 30 cm of previous storm snow from last week overlies a variety of surfaces. This snow has fallen on a crust on south-facing slopes, and in places protected from the wind surface hoar.

Wind slab exist on all aspects. Currently strong northly winds are forming pockets of wind slabs on south aspect terrain and past southerly winds developed wind slab on north aspect terrain.

A weak layer of facets and crust from early December is buried approximately 50 to 100 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear. 30 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 50 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. 60 to 80 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.

Regions covered