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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 19th, 2024–Dec 20th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Evaluate your line for windslab - gusty winds are quickly redistributing loose snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Early reports Thursday witnessed blowing snow and winds quickly redistributing fresh flurries to lee features.

On Tuesday, explosives triggered several thin wind slabs up to size 2 in open areas above treeline. In the Nigunsaw area, a skier triggered a 35 cm thick slab on a steep roll, failing on large surface hoar on a crust. Evidence of older avalanches to size 2, 20 to 30 cm deep were also reported, failing on either surface hoar or a crust.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of fresh flurries covered 10 to 30 cm older, wind-affected snow. Steady winds are quickly impacting any loose snow.

The crust from early December is now buried 20 to 40 cm. In some areas, large surface hoar crystals are found at this interface. We are trying to track this surface hoard distribution across the region - most recently, the layer was reactive to skiers in the Ningunsaw area.

Below, the lower snowpack has no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

Cloudy with flurries, trace to 5 of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Friday

Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for slabs before you commit to it.

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.