Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 9th, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

Email

Stick to conservative terrain.

Avoid areas where either the sun or wind has formed light and dry snow into a cohesive slab.

Summary

Confidence

High

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 to 60 cm of snow accumulated last week and is beginning to facet and develop surface hoar in protected areas. Recent easterly wind in the alpine and northerly wind near valley bottom redistributed this snow in wind-exposed terrain. The snow remains soft in wind-sheltered terrain with a lack of slab properties. The snow overlies various layers that it may not bond well to, including faceted grains, surface hoar crystals and a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle 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 well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Starry skies with few clouds. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low temperature -25 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °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.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

40 to 60 cm of snow rests on a weak layer. On specific terrain features overlying snow has formed a cohesive slab. Recent avalanche activity has been specific to areas that are on southern aspects and steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Past wind had shifted directions, meaning you may find wind slabs on any aspect in wind-exposed terrain. Wind slabs could step down to buried weak layers and run surprisingly far.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 10th, 2025 4:00PM

Login