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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2023–Mar 26th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Expect the sun and warm temperatures to rapidly unconsolidated the upper snowpack and promote the creation of both wet and dry loose avalanches. Carefully consider your terrain choices prior to committing to steep avalanche terrain, especially as daytime temperatures rise and the sun appears.

Watch for lingering wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggering.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a few large (size 2) glide slab avalanche releases occurred and noted cracking and buckling was observed on know areas with basal rock slab features. A few ridgetop cornice failures that tested slopes below with no slab release.

On Wednesday, avalanche activity has begun to subside as only a few small ( size 1) loose wet avalanche were reported and initiated from very steep south aspect terrain at treeline elevations and below. On specific terrain features such as smooth rock slabs, glide slab cracking and buckling was reported,

On Tuesday A few naturally triggered small loose wet avalanches were observed with one large (size 2) that initiated in a steep rocky feature in the alpine running onto the glacier below. A noted natural small (size 1) wind slab avalanche on a northeast aspect in the alpine was reported. Additional reports of large (size 2) glide slab avalanches occurring on a south aspect in terrain with rock slab features being the ground roughness characteristic.

On Monday, numerous small wet loose avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep, rocky solar slopes at higher elevations.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Variable winds have built wind slabs on exposed terrain features near ridgetop. Below 1800 m moist snow or a refrozen melt freeze crust covers the surface. The crust extends up to 2000 m on solar aspects. During periods of daytime warming surfaces on all aspects below 1300 m are becoming unconsolidated and moist. Above this elevation only direct solar aspects are affected by the sun.

The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts.

The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. This layer has produced limited recent avalanche activity, however it can quickly become active again with any significant change to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged and extensive warming.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with periods of clearing, no new precipitation. Light northwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -6°C. Freezing levels descending to sea level.

Sunday

Cloudy with some periods of clearing no new precipitation. Light to moderate southeast winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1100 m.

Monday

Cloudy , becoming clear in the afternoon. No new precipitation. Light to moderate northeast winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1100 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy , becoming clear in the afternoon. No new precipitation. Light to moderate northeast winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

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.