Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2025–Feb 2nd, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Avoid areas where the wind is actively depositing snow, wind slabs are most reactive as they are forming.

Very large avalanches are a concern in alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday:

Recent snow and wind produced a number of large and small natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches on all aspects and at all elevations.

On Thursday:

Two size 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on southerly aspects in the alpine, both avalanches stepped down to layers from December. One of them was remote triggered from 30 m away!

On Wednesday:

A size 3 natural triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported on a north aspect in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

There has been 30 to 60 cm of new snow since Wednesday, that is being redistributed by strong north east wind, reverse loading features at all elevations.

A surface hoar layer that is between 50 - 90cm deep.

Buried weak layers from December, 150 to 250 cm deep, include crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar, and continue to produce large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly clear with flurries. 30 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -24 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 40 to 80 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -24 °C.

Friday Night

Sunny. 30 to 70 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.