Avalanche forecast

South Coast

Feb 5 – 6, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

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.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    With up to 120 cm of low density storm snow, expect sluffing on steep terrain.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Storm slabs sit over a weak layer and remain triggerable by riders. The most likely places to trigger an avalanche are in wind-loaded lee terrain features just below ridgetops and convex rolls.

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.

Regions covered