Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, East Stikine, Howson, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, Northwest Inland, South Bulkley, Telkwa, West Stikine.
Watch for small new wind slabs which may form during the day in wind-exposed terrain.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported since the weekend, but reports have been limited. Please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
The new snowfall may be burying small facets and/or surface hoar in sheltered terrain. Exposed terrain at upper elevations has been heavily wind-affected. Soft snow can likely still be found in sheltered terrain features.
Check out this detailed MIN from Ashman.
A rain crust from early November is buried 40 to 90 cm deep and seems to be bonding well to overlying layers.
Alpine snow depths vary across the region, with up to 130 cm west of Smithers and around 60 cm to the east.
Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow to meet the threshold for avalanches.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mainly cloudy with light snowfall up to 5 cm. 20 to 40 km/h northwesterly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C
Wednesday
Cloudy with snowfall up to 10 cm. 40 to 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with snowfall up to 20 cm. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °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.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New wind slabs may form during the day in parts of the region that receive enough new snowfall.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5