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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2025–Jan 10th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Wind slab or wet snow avalanches have potential to step down to buried weak layers, resulting in large, consequential avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, pinwheeling was observed in the moist snow around 1400 m. On Wednesday, several wind slab avalanches size 1.5 to 2 were reported on east aspects in the alpine. Some were cornice-triggered and one was noted to have stepped down the persistent weak layer.

Snowpack Summary

Light snowfall continues to be redistributed by west wind. Recent snowfall has been variable throughout the region, between 10 and 40 cm since the start of the week. Below 1200 m, the snow surface may be moist, wet or crusty.

The recent snow may cover a thin sun crust on south to west facing slopes.

A significant weak layer is buried 40 to 80 cm deep, composed of weak facets overlying a crust. With additional new snow and wind-loading, this layer may be reactive.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with around 5 cm of snow. 60 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Friday

Cloudy with around 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

Problems

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.

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.