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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2023–Feb 3rd, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

New snow and wind will create dangerous conditions in the alpine and in the trees. Wind loaded or steep terrain can produce large avalanches at all elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small wind slab avalanches have been reported across the region.

Large avalanches on more deeply buried persistent weak layers are continuing to be reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of new snow overlays various wind-affected surfaces in alpine terrain and a widespread, supportive, melt-freeze crusts at lower elevations (roughly 1900 m and below). Much of this new snow is being blown into thick wind slab by southwest winds.

The mid and lower snowpack continues to bond and stabilize while a number of buried weak layers remain a concern and have produced a few large avalanches recently.

Weather Summary

Thursday nightCloudy. 10-15 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest at 30-50 km/h. Temperature -1° C.

Friday

Cloudy. 5-10 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest at 30-40 km/h up to 60 km/h in the alpine . Temperature up to 0° C in the alpine with freezing levels to 800 m

Saturday

Cloudy. 5-10 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 30-40 km/h. Temperature up to 0° C in the alpine with freezing levels to 800 m.

Sunday

Scattered clouds. Up to 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the west at 30 km/h. Temperature up to 0° C with freezing levels coming up to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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.

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.