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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 3rd, 2023–Feb 4th, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Brazeau, Churchill, Cirrus-Wilson, Fryatt, Icefields, Jasper, Maligne, Marmot, Miette Lake, Pyramid.

Strong winds continue to build wind slab at treeline and above. Watch for wind slab development farther down slopes than usual.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One skier triggered size 1 avalanche occurred in the Buck Lake area of the Icefields Parkways on Jan 31st.

Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.

Snowpack Summary

Strong southwest wind is stripping snow in exposed alpine features and creating wind slab into exposed tree line. A thin melt freeze crust down 25cm below 2100m is showing sudden collapse results in snow pit tests below this layer on facets. Generally, the bottom of the snowpack is weak facets and depth hoar. The snowpack ranges from 50 to 120cm.

Weather Summary

Saturday- Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -6 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 1400 metres.

Sunday- Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -9 °C, High -5 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Monday-Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -9 °C.

Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.

Freezing level at valley bottom

Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
  • Watch for signs of slab formation throughout the day.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Strong to extreme winds are building wind slabs with the recent snow. Watch for wind slab development on top of the Jan 27th melt freeze crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2