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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2024–Feb 2nd, 2024

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

Regions

South Rockies, Akamina, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Avalanche danger may increase through the day as surface crusts break down with afternoon warming.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday there were several explosives controlled size 2-2.5 wet slab avalanches running in steep alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

A weak surface crust has likely formed overnight over a moist or wet upper snowpack This crust may break down throughout the day as the temperature warms.

There is a layer of sugary facets that are buried 30-50 cm deep and in some places may sit on a crust.

The middle and lower snowpack contains a series of crusts and faceted snow. It is likely moist to ground. Expect snow depth at treeline to be 70 to 120 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with clear periods. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 2500 m.

Friday

Mainly cloudy. Alpine wind southwest 10-20 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 2100 m.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow. Alpine wind northeast 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine wind southwest 10-20 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.