Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2024 2:45PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Loose Wet, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada mkoppang, Avalanche Canada

Email

No freeze is expected overnight. The heat has made the snowpack unstable and ski quality extremely poor. Ice climbers this is the time to avoid gully features where the consequences of even a small wet loose slide can be large.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches up to sz 2 and a few deep persistent avalanche up to sz 2.5 have been observed over the past few days. The deep avalanches mainly occurred on N and E aspects initiating in alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps are making the snowpack isothermal in lower elevation areas and making the top 10-30cm moist at treeline and above. This rapid settlement is overloading the weak basal facets in some areas triggering full depth avalanches. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at this time.

On a positive side when it does get cold again, the snowpack will be fairly supportive! Dig out your ski crampons for February!

Weather Summary

Another warm day in store with no overnight freeze expected expected and freezing levels on Wednesday around 2800m. The sky will be sunny also so pay attention to aspect that you are on/under. Day time highs will be around +4 at treeline.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.

Problems

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Surface snow becoming moist and wet with high freezing levels.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Persistent and wet slabs have been seen to be failing on the arctic facets down 30-50cm

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Recent evidence exists of avalanche failing in the basal facets and depth hoar close to ground.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2024 4:00PM

Login