Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 3rd, 2024–Jan 4th, 2024

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Kitimat, Nass, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.

New snow and wind mean an increased likelihood of avalanches

You can always choose low angle terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, multiple skier-triggered wind slabs on loaded and cross-loaded features up to 90 cm deep were reported at treeline. Widespread wet loose debris was also reported at treeline and below from a natural avalanche cycle that occurred during the rain event. These avalanches are from the southwest of the region.

In the north of the region, one natural size 1 wind slab was reported on a northeast aspect in the alpine on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Check out this great MIN describing conditions at Shames.

5 to 15 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by southerly winds. Below about 1500 m, this snow sits on a crust. Several other crusts exist in the upper snowpack.

Two buried surface hoar layers may still be found in the mid-pack in isolated areas.

Snow depths are highly variable throughout the region, ranging from 100 to 300 cm at treeline and tapering rapidly below.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow expected, southerly alpine winds 30 to 60 km/h, freezing level rising to 600 m in the southwest of the region, otherwise surface.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine winds 20 to 60 km/h, freezing level rising to 800 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected, south alpine winds 20 to 60 km/h, freezing level around 500 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow expected, northwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level dropping to surface.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Reactive storm slabs may build throughout the day today. Storm slabs may be deeper and easier to trigger in wind-loaded terrain features, gullies, and rollovers.

Snow totals are expected to be greater in the southwest of the region.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2