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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 12th, 2023–Mar 13th, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Keep an eye out for blowing snow. If redistribution of snow is observed fresh and more reactive wind slabs are likely to form.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche observations have been limited to solar-triggered loose avalanches from steep south aspects.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is highly variable with scoured surfaces on east aspects, wind loaded features on west aspects and sun crust on solar aspects. In sheltered terrain loose soft snow may still be available for good riding conditions. If southerly winds pick up during the day small thin wind slabs could form on northerly aspects.

Several crusts, layers of facets, or surface hoar can be found in the top 150 cm of the snowpack, but have not shown any significant avalanche activity or snowpack test results recently.

The lower snowpack consists of weak, basal facets which may become active with any rapid change in the snowpack, such as heavy loading or dramatic warming. Avoiding thin and rocky start zones is still recommended.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected. Light to moderate easterly winds at ridge tops and a low of -10°C at 1500 m.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow expected. Light southerly winds and a high of -7°C at 1500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with a few centimeters of new snow possible. Light to moderate southerly winds and a high of -5°C at 1500 m.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and a high of -5°C at 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

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.