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 Saturday, a human-triggered, size 1, wind slab avalanche was reported on an open cross-loaded feature at treeline.

Numerous dry loose avalanches were reported. Naturals up to size 1, on steep solar aspects and human triggered, up to size 1.5, on steep polar aspects.

On Wednesday, a 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 exposed terrain at all elevations. In sheltered terrain 10 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 60 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.

Sunday Night

Clear. 10 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• 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.