Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 25th, 2022–Nov 26th, 2022

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 and human triggered avalanches likely.

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Kispiox.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Big snow and strong winds, all this on an early season weak snowpack.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations have been observed or reported in this region.

With expected new snow and wind, I suspect that both natural and human-trigger avalanches will be widespread and certain.

Snowpack Summary

Over the past 72 hr period, a warm storm front has brought over 50- 70 cm to the region. This snow has been highly wind affected and is likely to have stripped exposed windward alpine features, creating wind slabs in depths exceeding 100cm. The new snow has buried widespread wind affected surfaces that are likely topped by some combination of weak, faceted grains or surface hoar from the dry spell that accompanied the past arctic outbreak. Below this storm interface, the remainder of the snowpack is generally thin and weak as a result of the same cold temperatures and snowpack faceting.

Total snowpack depths in the region are around 100-120 cm but are highly variable in the heavily wind-affected alpine.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 1 cm to 5 cm, 80 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level descending to 600 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 25 cm to 35 cm, 100 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 600 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 1 cm to 5 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -8 C, freezing level at sea level.

Monday

Cloudy with trace amounts of snow accumulation 1 cm to 10 cm. 30 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level at sea level.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
Avoid areas with overhead hazard.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.