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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2017–Feb 6th, 2017

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Wind slabs are a significant concern in the alpine. The probability of triggering a full depth avalanche has lowered but the consequence of doing so remains High. Click here for more information in our blog on this specific problem.

Confidence

Moderate - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Steady weather pattern for the Northwest: Cold and mostly clear with no precipitation.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate east wind / Alpine temperature -22TUESDAY: Sunny / Light southeast wind / Alpine temperature -14 WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Moderate east wind / Alpine temperature -15

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, slab avalanches were reported in the Shootout area of Telkwa range. A remote-triggered Size 2 wind slab was set off by a skier in the Kispiox on Friday, running on basal facets. There have been few avalanches reported over the last 3 days. However, it is still possible to trigger an avalanche on deeper weak layers at upper elevations either from a thin spot or a smaller avalanche stepping down.

Snowpack Summary

Last weekend's snowfall sits on a rain crust up to about 1400 m in many parts of the region. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs, especially on west through southeast aspects. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 30-70 cm deep. Reports from last week indicate these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region, especially shallower (100-140cm) snowpack areas. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains high. It is still a good time to be cautious and disciplined with terrain choices at upper elevations.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.