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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2025–Feb 5th, 2025

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

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Conservative terrain travel is recommended. Riders could trigger dangerous avalanches at any elevation, on all aspects.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

We received many reports of small to large (size 1 to 2) slab avalanches on Monday, releasing on the weak layers described in the Snowpack Summary. They were 40 to 100 cm deep and occurred on all aspects and at all elevations, with most occurring on northerly aspects around treeline. These avalanches were similar to the avalanche cycle that occurred on the weekend.

It remains possible for humans to trigger similar avalanches going forward. Read more about this problem here.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 to 60 cm of snow accumulated since last Friday. Recent easterly wind in the alpine and northerly wind near valley bottom redistributed some of this snow in wind-exposed terrain. The snow remains soft in wind-sheltered terrain. The snow overlies various layers that it may not bond well to, including faceted grains, surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered openings, and a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle to upper portion of the snowpack between approximately 50 and 100 cm deep is faceted with numerous other layers of surface hoar and/or crusts that formed over the month of January.

The lower snowpack is strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind, 40 to 60 km/h northwest valley wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Thursday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Friday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • It's a good day to make conservative terrain choices.
  • Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
  • Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.