Kitimat

Continually assess conditions as you move through terrain

Cold temperatures are softening the upper snowpack, avalanches are most likely where the snowpack feels “slabby”

On Thursday and Friday several natural dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed in steep terrain.

Several small skier triggered wind slab avalanches were also reported on Thursday.

On Wednesday 1 size 2.5 remotely triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was on a northwest aspect in the alpine and ran on the surface hoar from late January.

Previous strong to extreme northeast outflow wind has scoured  windward terrain at all elevations. In sheltered terrain 20 to 40 cm of faceted snow overlies a surface hoar layer from late January.

Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 30 to 50 cm deep.

A layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried  100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Saturday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
• Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
• Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.