Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 31st, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
bchristie,
Avalanche Canada
Continue to make conservative terrain choices.
We are slowly transitioning out of a warm, stormy period that introduced rapid change to the snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday morning, north of Stewart, large (size 2.5) natural wind slab avalanches were reported in alpine terrain.
On Monday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle continued on all aspects and elevations, up to size 3.5. These avalanches occurred during an intense, stormy period of wind, snow and rain.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack is a mix of wind slabs, moist snow, dry snow, and a frozen crust that exists up to 1800 m.
Around 60-100 cm below the snow surface, a thick crust buried in early January exists up to 1600 m. At higher elevations, this same layer is weak, sugary faceted snow. More weak layers of facets and feathery surface hoar (formed up until mid-January) sit on top of this layer. The recent storm snow/rain and warm temperatures triggered large avalanches on these layers during the height of the storm, but it is expected that they will start to strengthen with calmer, cooler weather.
Below treeline, the majority of the snowpack is rain-soaked and diminishes rapidly to dirt below 500 m.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy. Light rain expected, moderate around Terrace and Kitimat (10-20 mm). Snow above 1250 m. Moderate south or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around 0 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. Very light rain expected. Freezing level around 1600 m. Moderate south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 1 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 7-15 cm of snow expected to near valley bottom. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Temperature dropping rapidly, treeline low around -7 °C.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -10 °C.
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.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Wind Slabs
This avalanche problem is most likely where moderate winds are moving dry snow and forming fresh slabs in leeward terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Several weak layers buried between late December and mid-January are still a concern in this forecast area. Calmer, cooler weather is making them less reactive, but they might not really lock up until the weekend when it's much colder.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches become less likely as temperatures cool, but watch for signs of instability like natural avalanches on steep slopes, and snow clumping up, gathering mass, and moving downslope underneath you as you travel.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 1st, 2024 4:00PM
