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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 6th, 2025–Feb 7th, 2025

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

Regions

Brandywine, Garibaldi, Spearhead, Tantalus.

The sun may be out but dangerous avalanche conditions persist.

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanches of all trigger types have been reported over the past several days. Slabs have been failing up to a meter deep.

Notably on Tuesday, one avalanche resulted in a person being fully buried for a lengthy time (check this MIN for details) and another was a near-miss for a snowmobiler. (Photo below)A very large (size 3) naturally triggered cornice was also observed near Whistler. The cornice triggered a subsequent slab below. (Photo below)

Snowpack Summary

35 to 80 cm of snow accumulated from the last storm is overlying a persistent weak layer that developed in late January. In most areas, this layer consists of a hard slippery crust. However, on shady, upper-elevation slopes, the new snow may be resting on faceted grains or surface hoar. Wind-affected snow and wind slabs formed by recent shifting wind can be found on various aspects at upper elevations. The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Friday

Sunny. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection and resist venturing into complex terrain.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.