New snow and wind are loading several buried weak layers in the snowpack. Conservative terrain, avoiding wind affected areas and minimizing exposure to overhead hazard are good choices. The potential for large avalanches to run long distances exists.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light, east. Temperature -14. Freezing level valley bottom.THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation 2-5 cm. Ridge wind light, northeast. Temperature -14. Freezing level valley bottom.FRIDAY: Sunny. Ridge wind light, northeast. Temperature -10. Freezing level valley bottom.SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind light to moderate, southwest. Temperature -6. Freezing level valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday evidence of a natural avalanche cycle from size 1.5-2.5 was reported on north through south aspects between 1200-1600 m in the Howson Range failing both in the recent storm snow as well as the deeper mid-December layer. A natural size 2.5 that failed on a deep weak layer of sugary, facets at the base of the snowpack was also reported from the northern part of the region near Ningunsaw.On Saturday a small storm slab was reportedly human triggered on an east facing aspect around 1000 m. And at the start of the storm on Wednesday and Thursday skiers triggered a few small slabs on steep convex rolls.Last week some large (size 2-3) natural persistent slab avalanches in the Howsons, and two large (size 2.5) remotely triggered avalanches north of Kispiox were reported. We have no information from the Smithers area, but suspect a similar deeper weakness could exist there too. Activity on buried weak layers is most suspect during periods of heavy loading or rapid warming, hence it's time to be cautious.
Snowpack Summary
Wednesday's storm delivered about 15 cm of new snow during the day bringing storm snow totals to 40-80 cm since last Thursday which has mostly formed well settled upper snowpack layers. A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies 50-90 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 90-130 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.
jmcbride,
Avalanche Canada
