Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 4th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada ahanna, Avalanche Canada

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Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Babine, East Stikine, Howson, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.

Evaluate your line for wind slabs before committing to larger features.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations since Friday, when activity was mostly limited to small size 1-1.5 natural and rider-triggered wind slabs on north to east aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine, 10 to 50 cm of dry snow has been redistributed into wind slabs. Underneath, a moist/crusty upper snowpack extends up to 1800 m north of Stewart and 2000 m around Terrace/Smithers latitudes. At elevations below treeline, crusty surfaces cap a wet snowpack.

A variety of previously concerning weak layers buried in January can be found 30 to 100 cm deep. These layers produced large avalanches near Stewart during last week's rain event. They now appear to be strengthening and are not anticipated to be a problem under the current conditions.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear. East ridgetop wind 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature around -12 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. Southeast ridgetop wind 20 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature around -6 °C.

Tuesday

Clouding over, flurries starting in the afternoon bringing a trace of snow. Ridgetop wind northwest shifting southwest 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature around -6 °C.

Wednesday

Around 5 cm overnight then a mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries. Ridgetop wind northwest to southwest 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature around -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may remain triggerable at upper elevations where wind has transported dry snow into leeward terrain features. Wind-transported snow has also enlarged cornices recently.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Feb 5th, 2024 4:00PM

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