Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Stewart, West Stikine.
Continue to avoid being in or under alpine avalanche terrain. The snowpack still needs time to adjust and regain strength after a warm, wet storm.
Confidence
Moderate
Snowpack Summary
Light to moderate snowfall continues as the freezing level drops.
Over the last week, this forecast area has seen significant rain and snow. The upper snowpack is likely very dense, settling rapidly, and moist or wet at treeline elevations and below, where some of this snow fell as rain. In the alpine, strong southerly winds have been blowing this snow, depositing it as thick and touchy slabs on leeward slopes.
A weak layer of surface hoar and/or facets formed earlier in the month is now buried around 60-80cm. Below this, a thick crust from January 1st exists up to around 1600 m. There is high potential for the warm temperatures and new precipitation to overload these layers triggering very large avalanches.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow expected above 1200 m. Moderate south or southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 10-20 cm of snow expected above 750 m. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 5-15 cm of snow expected above 500 m. Moderate southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy. 5-15 cm of snow expected above 1000 m. Strong south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slab avalanches are still likely in terrain that continues to be rapidly loaded by new snow and moderate to strong winds.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Persistent Slabs
Warm temperatures, strong winds, and new precipitation recently overloaded these layers in many areas, triggering very large avalanches. Give the snowpack more time to settle and adjust as the storm tapers and temperatures cool.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches become less likely as temperatures cool, but watch for signs of instability like natural loose wet avalanches on steep slopes, and snow clumping up, gathering mass, and moving downslope underneath you as you travel.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2