Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 11th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
ejones,
Avalanche Canada
Seek out sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs.
Cold and short days increase the consequences if caught in an avalanche; read this blog on managing cold weather.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Wind slabs that have formed due to north winds continue to be the main concern.
On Thursday skiers near Terrace triggered a wind slab avalanche up to 50 cm deep. Read the full report here.
On Wednesday several size 1 and 2 wind slab avalanches were reported throughout the region. They occurred on south- and east-facing slopes in the alpine.
On Tuesday a size 2 windslab avalanche was reported on a steep, southeast-facing, alpine feature in the Shames backcountry.
Snowpack Summary
Northerly winds are redistributing 20 to 50 cm of soft snow into wind slabs in exposed areas. These winds are opposite to regular loading patterns, so you could expect to find wind slabs on slopes you wouldn't normally.
This overlies previous hard surfaces or a melt-freeze crust that extends up to 1800 m.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, a weak layer in the form of a crust may exist up to 100 cm deep, particularly in the alpine with areas of shallow snowpack.
The remainder of the snowpack is reportedly strong with various hard crusts.
Snow depths vary throughout the region, ranging from 150 to 300 cm at treeline and tapering rapidly below.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly clear with no new snow, alpine winds northeast 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -30 ºC.
Friday
Sunny with no new snow, northwest alpine winds 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -25 ºC.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with trace new snow, north alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -25 ºC.
Saturday
Mostly sunny with no new snow, north alpine winds 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -25 ºC.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
Problems
Wind Slabs
North winds continue to form fresh wind slabs.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, wind slabs could fail on a buried crust, up to 100 cm deep. This is most likely in alpine areas with a shallow snowpack in wind-affect terrain; like southwest slopes.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 12th, 2024 4:00PM
