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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2025–Feb 5th, 2025

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

Regions

South Coast, Powell River, North Shore, Sasquatch, Sasquatch, Sky Pilot, Tetrahedron.

Seek out low angle sheltered terrain, where the snow is soft and fluffy. Be aware of signs of instability such as whoompfs, or shooting cracks.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend, numerous storm slab avalanches were reported size 1-2 on all aspects and elevations. They were triggered naturally, by skiers, vehicles and explosives. Some were triggered remotely or sympathetically. Slabs were up to 60 cm deep and ran on a crust or facet layer beneath the storm snow.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 120 cm of storm snow has fallen since January 31st. This new snow may contain a thin crust from a brief temperature spike on Friday. This new snow is low density and showing limited slab properties, however this may change with the continued outflow winds.

This recent snow not yet well bonded to an underlying weak layer formed during the January drought. Depending on aspect and elevation, the layer may exist as a hard crust, faceted grains and/or surface hoar.

The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Partly cloudy. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
  • Conservative terrain selection is critical; choose gentle, low consequence lines.
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations.
  • Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.