Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, Hudson Bay, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.
Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for reactive wind slabs, especially in the alpine.
The new load may be the tipping point for deeper instabilities and bigger avalanches.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Changing winds and new snow may build fresh and reactive wind slabs on many aspects by Saturday.
Natural activity may taper but the snowpack could be primed for human triggered avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
By Thursday, there was up to 20 cm of new snow. Strong southwest winds will likely redistribute the storm snow onto leeward slopes, building thicker wind slabs. Changing winds may start to load southerly aspects and have a poor bond in areas (1200–1300 m), where it sits on a crust.
A persistent weak layer composed of facets overlying a crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep and may be reactive with the new load from snow and wind.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly clear. 20 to 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods. 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8°C. Freezing level valley bottom. Above freezing layer in the alpine.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods. 10 gusting to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5. Freezing level valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Changing winds may leave stiffer and deeper deposits of snow on many aspects. They may be primed for human triggering in the alpine and treeline.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A widespread crust with weak facets overtop is buried 50-100 cm deep. While this layer exists on all aspects, it's most likely to be triggered at treeline and above and will produce large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3