Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Dec 31, 2023 – Jan 1, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Moderate to strong southwest winds have promoted wind slab formation at uppermost elevations where precipitation fell as snow. The freezing level is forecast to gradually drop.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Recent snow and/or rain was accompanied by moderate to strong southeast and southwest wind. Expect to find deepest deposits in lee terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Last week, large avalanches were running on layers of surface hoar that are now buried 75 - 200 cm deep.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche at low elevations will gradually decrease as the temperature cools through the day Saturday

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday there were reports of widespread wet loose and wet slab avalanches size 1-2 on all aspects These likely happened Friday, Friday night and Saturday.

On Friday a MIN post described seeing several natural avalanches near the Anderson Cabin.

Snowpack Summary

20-50 cm of heavy storm snow or rain soaked snow at upper elevations snow sits on a rain crust formed around Christmas. At upper elevations, strong winds from variable directions have likely built reactive slabs on many aspects in open areas and near ridge crests.Two buried surface hoar layers can still be found in isolated areas, buried 75-100 cm, and 120-200 cm deep. The remaining mid and lower snowpack contains several well-bonded crusts. Snow depths are highly variable depending on elevation, and decrease rapidly below treeline.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with light rain or snow, accumulation 2-4 cm above 1000 m, southewest wind 20 - 40 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 900 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, south west wind 15-30 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level dropping to 500 m.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with 2-5 cm of snow, southwest wind 20-40 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level around 500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries, southeast wind 15-25 km/h, treeline temperature -2 °C freezing level around 600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Give the new snow time to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.

Regions covered