Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Feb 3 – 4, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Snow that is being redistributed by the wind will be likely to avalanche.

Deeply buried layers are still a concern in very large alpine terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Strong northeast wind has reverse or cross-loaded slopes at all elevations. The recent 20 to 40 cm of snow may bond slowly to underlying layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    On terrain features that have been protected from the wind, you are likely to find surface hoar over a melt freeze crust. This layer is down 50 cm and has been recently reactive to skier triggering.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday a skier trigger avalanche occurred at treeline on a north aspect. This avalanche failed on a layer of surface hoar buried down 50 cm. Review this MIN report for further detail.

One very large natural avalanche was observed last week (size 3.5) on a northerly aspect at 1800 m. This likely failed on the buried weak layer from December described in the snowpack summary.

Snowpack Summary

Last week 20 to 40 cm of new snow fell and now overlies surface hoar in areas protected from the wind, a melt freeze crust on south aspect terrain and sastrugi in the alpine.

Strong northeast winds are now reverse loading features at all elevations.

100 to 200 cm deep in the snowpack are layers of crust, facets, and possibly surface hoar that were buried in December and have not been recently reactive in this forecast area.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear. 30 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. 50 to 80 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 10 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.

Regions covered