Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2022–Feb 5th, 2022

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal.

Storm slabs are likely to remain reactive to human triggers. Stick to low consequence terrain and avoid wind-loaded terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Tapering flurries 5-10 cm. Strong NW wind. Freezing level 1000 m. Alpine temperature around -1 C.

Saturday: Scattered flurries up to 5 cm. Moderate to strong W wind. Freezing level 800 m. Alpine temperature around -4 C.

Sunday: Snowfall 10-20 cm. Strong SW wind. Freezing level 1000 m. Alpine temperature -2 C.

Sunday: Snowfall 20-40 cm. Moderate to strong SW wind. Freezing level 1000 m. Alpine temperature -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday and Friday, explosive work produced storm slab avalanches up to size 3.5. Smaller natural storm slabs and loose dry avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

50-100 cm of recent snow sits above a variety of surfaces that formed during the end of January. These include a crust, facets, surface hoar and combinations of these crystals. The crust can be found at or below treeline as well as on south-facing terrain in the alpine. Facets have likely formed in shady areas that did not form a crust. Surface hoar may be found in isolated sheltered terrain at treeline. Below around 1200m, the upper snowpack is wet to moist over these surfaces.

The January 19th surface hoar layer can still be found down 40 to 60 at treeline and above in sheltered terrain. Recent reports indicate that it is becoming less of a concern.

Terrain and Travel

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.

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.