Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2025 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Canada

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Deep, fresh storm slabs sit over an unusually unstable layer, creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid avalanche terrain.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Storm slabs were widespread and touchy on Friday. Avalanches were easily triggerable in any terrain over 30 degrees. Check out the easily skier-triggered slab at 0:40 in North Shore Rescue's Avalanche Conditions Report. Slabs were 30 to 40 cm deep, propagating as wide as 100 m and running on the old crusty and faceted surfaces.

Snowpack Summary

50 to 70 cm of new snow has accumulated since Thursday night. Near ridgetops, strong southwest wind has loaded new snow into leeward terrain features. The new snow is not expected to bond well to underlying surfaces including a hard crust, facets and/or surface hoar.

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

Check out the snowpack discussion starting at 1:57 in North Shore Rescue's Avalanche Conditions Report from Friday.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow above 800 m. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -1 °C. Freezing level dropping from 1000m to 500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -10 °C.

Monday

10 to 20 cm of snow overnight then cloudy with light flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -11 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
  • Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Fresh storm slabs sit over weak, old snow and will likely remain touchy through the weekend.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 1st, 2025 4:00PM

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