Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

WEDNESDAY: Snow, accumulation 15-25 cm. Moderate gusting to strong southwest wind. Alpine temperature --2. Freezing level 900 m.THURSDAY: Snow, accumulation 15-20 cm. Moderate gusting to strong southwest wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 700 m.FRIDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm. Moderate gusting to strong south wind. Alpine temperature -4. Freezing level 600 m.

A Size 2, natural avalanche in alpine terrain west of Kasiks River along the Skeena was reported on Tuesday morning. Also on Tuesday skiers in the Shames area reported "hearing a large avalanche" from a valley adjacent to the ski area. In recent days other observers in the Terrace area report shooting cracks within the recent storm snow (see the Mountain Information Network (MIN) post from Nov 25). Looking forward, a succession of storms with high winds and snowfall amounts are expected to continue rapidly loading the snowpack. This will establish very dangerous avalanche conditions during and immediately following these events. Any travel in avalanche terrain will require very conservative route-finding and terrain choices. Please post your observations to the MIN.

Depending on elevation, between 50-100 cm of recent storm snow snow lies on a supportive, 5-10 cm thick crust that formed following last week's warm, wet weather (November 23 crust). Below this crust are two weak layers that were noted to have formed in the early season (November 11 and October 31) and are now buried 120-140 cm within the snowpack. Beneath the October 31 crust is a 20-30 cm thick layer consisting of several thin crusts and large, sugary snow crystals. Recent snowpack tests report easy to moderate, sudden compression test results within the storm snow as well as moderate to hard, sudden results on the October 31 layer near the base of the snowpack.Snowpack depths average 100-170 cm between 800 m and 1200 m elevation in the southern part of the region. In the north near Ningunsaw, reports describe a a much shallower snowpack. Here, a possible 20-30 cm of recent storm snow may now overlie a thin lower snowpack composed mainly of weak, sugary snow. Snow depths in this part of the region range are from 50-100 cm between 600 and 1100 m elevation.