Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Stewart, West Stikine.
Avoid areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering weak layer is more likely.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
There has been no avalanche activity reported in the past few days.
However, operators in the area are still concerned about a weak layer of facets over a crust from early December that has produced large avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Previous strong winds have scoured terrain at treeline and above on all aspects. Ongoing cold temperatures have softened the surface of wind affected terrain in many areas. In sheltered terrain 30 to 60 cm of faceted snow overlies a crust and layer of surface hoar from late January.
Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 50 to 100 cm deep.
A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December varies in depth from 100 to 300 cm. This layer remains a concern in this region.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Clear. 15 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 to 60 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -19 °C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 0 to 2 cm of snow. 0 to 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. 0 to 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and slopes above cliffs.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer buried 100 to 300 cm remains a concern. Avoid shallow rocky areas where the snow transitions from thick to thin and triggering this layer is more likely. If triggered the resulting avalanche would be very large and destructive.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Persistent Slabs
Up to a meter of snow overlies a weak layer, a crust and surface hoar layer, formed in mid-January. This layer may still be reactive to human triggering on slopes where the upper snowpack feels stiff or slabby.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5