Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, Hudson Bay, Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.
Watch for fresh and reactive wind slabs forming at higher elevations on Wednesday.
Keep the buried weak layers on the radar, and head to simple terrain if you observe signs of instability.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Rider triggered size 1 wind slabs were reported on Monday, during active loading from westerly winds at Ashman and Silvern Lakes.
Looking forward we expect this to continue with new snow and wind on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Light snow and strong southwest winds are likely forming wind deposits on north facing slopes. A widespread layer of surface hoar is buried 10 to 30 cm deep, which overlies crust on solar aspects and at low elevations.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid February is 30 to 50 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind increase overnight. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 60 km/h southwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels reach 1100 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with flurries 30 to 40 km/h southwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -0 °C. Freezing levels reach 1300 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud with flurries 30 to 40 km/h southwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -0 °C. Freezing levels reach 1300 m.
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.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Facets and/or surface hoar buried 50 to 80 cm deep are most prominent on north-facing slopes. Avoid areas with a thin or variable (thin to thick) snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Fresh and reactive slabs will likely form on north facing slopes, most reactive where they overly surface hoar.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5