Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2014 8:00AM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

catherine brown, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure remains in place over the region for the forecast period. No precipitation is forecast. Over the next three days expect freezing levels to remain at valley bottom with alpine temps below -15 deg C. Ridge top winds are forecast to be light to moderate from the NW. Skies will remain clear today with possible valley cloud.

Snowpack Summary

5cm of snow has buried various surfaces, with moderate winds moving it around. On steep solar aspects it will bond poorly to a suncrust, and elsewhere it will help preserve surface hoar and surface facets. In the alpine it hides hard windslabs and challenging skiing. The mid-pack is well settled and strong, with weaker basal layers.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanches were observed yesterday. Small loose avalanches (sluffs) have been triggered by skiers in steep terrain. Recently, field teams were able to ski-cut thin (5cm) hard slabs in wind affected areas in the alpine.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Problems

Loose Dry

5 cm of snow is reactive to skier-triggering. Expect fast sluffing in steep terrain.

Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1

Wind Slabs

Variable wind slabs are present beneath new snow. Use caution along ridge crests and breaks in terrain. In exposed alpine terrain hard slabs are present.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2014 8:00AM