Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 30th, 2024–Jan 31st, 2024

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Start on small slopes, and check for signs of instability before committing to steep or high-consequence terrain.

Riding conditions and avalanche problems will change with elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday and Monday, numerous small to large (up to size 2) naturally triggered avalanches were reported across the forecast area in steep, north and east-facing alpine terrain.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, we expect that natural avalanches will be less likely, but human-triggered wind slab avalanches will remain likely in wind-loaded features.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 5-10 cm of soft, dry snow on the surface in sheltered areas of the alpine and at treeline. Moderate to strong wind has formed reactive wind slabs on north through east-facing terrain, and exposed a thin, frozen crust on windward terrain.

At around 1000 m and below, the snowpack is shallower (around 50 cm) and likely isothermal. If you stand in it, your foot sinks right to the ground.

Two deeper surface hoar layers exist. These layers have become dormant and unlikely to trigger.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear, becoming cloudy by the morning. 0-2 cm of snow to near valley bottom. Moderate southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -2 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy. Light snow in the morning turning to light rain below 1750 m in the afternoon. Strong southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 2 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. Light rain expected, 3-5 cm of snow above 1500 m. Moderate ridgetop wind, shifting from SW to SE. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. Very light rain and snow expected as freezing level drops to valley bottom. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
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.

Problems

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.