Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2025–Feb 6th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Jordan, North Selkirk, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla, Whatshan.

Stick to conservative terrain, as riders can trigger dangerous avalanches on all aspects and elevations.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, multiple wind slab and persistent slab avalanches were reported, some remotely triggered.

On Monday, numerous size 1 to 2 slab avalanches released on weak layers from described in the Snowpack Summary. They ranged from 40 to 100 cm deep, occurring on all aspects and elevations, with most on northerly treeline slopes.

It remains possible for humans to trigger similar avalanches going forward. Read more about this problem here.

Snowpack Summary

Around 40 to 60 cm of snow accumulated since last Friday. Recent easterly wind in the alpine and northerly wind near valley bottom redistributed most of this snow in wind-exposed terrain. The snow remains soft in wind-sheltered terrain. The snow overlies various layers that it may not bond well to, including faceted grains, surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered openings, and a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.

The middle to upper portion of the snowpack between approximately 50 and 100 cm deep is faceted with numerous other layers of surface hoar and/or crusts that formed over the month of January.

The lower snowpack is well settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Thursday

Partially cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Friday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Saturday

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

It's a good day to make conservative terrain choices.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.