Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 1st, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Dry, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Deryl Kelly,
Despite a moderating hazard, there is sufficient complexity in the snowpack to question your exposure on any slope. Don't let your guard down!
Summary
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Temp: High -20 °C. Wind SW: 15 km/h.
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Temp: Low -20 °C, High -12 °C. Wind W: 15 km/h.
Friday: Flurries. Accumulation: 7 cm. Temp: Low -13 °C, High -9 °C. Wind SW: 25 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
New snow with N winds (-24hr) building slabs in alpine and tree line lee features. Varied wind effect at all elevations. A facetted and complex snowpack is wide-spread throughout tenure. Buried surface hoar found in isolated places, TL and below with no cohesive slab over top. Convective upslope storm isolated to the Maligne Range with 35cm of HN.
Avalanche Summary
Storm slabs and considerable loose dry activity observed near Medicine Lake on a West aspect at tree line. These storm slabs may have failed on preserved surface hoar but the overlying slab is not very cohesive, yet!
No new avalanche activity observed on the Icefields Parkway Jan 31.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Dry
Steep features will continue to shead previous new snow. Expect increasing frequency with direct solar influence.
- If triggered dry loose point releases can form deeper deposits in terrain traps.
- Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Recent snow is available for transport on the Icefileds Parkway. This new snow will make previous wind slab difficult to spot. Be on the lookout for reverse loading caused by northerly winds.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Persistent slabs sit over different weak layers depending on elevation & aspect. Above 1950m a buried facet layer down 20-40cm is the primary concern. Below 1950m, a faceting crust down 40-70 is presenting a more stubborn version of a similar problem
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2022 4:00PM
