Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Kitimat, Nass, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.
Seek out sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs.
Cold and short days increase the consequences if caught in an avalanche; read this blog on managing cold weather.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Fresh wind slabs forming in exposed areas continue to be the main concern.
On Tuesday a size 2 windslab avalanche was reported on a steep, southeast-facing, alpine feature in the Shames backcountry.
On Monday near Terrace, several wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers in the alpine on steep convexities, 20 cm deep.
On Monday in the Shames backcountry, wind transport was observed in the alpine and a small wind slab was triggered at treeline. This MIN has the report.
Snowpack Summary
Northerly winds are redistributing 20 to 50 cm of soft snow into wind slabs in exposed areas. These winds are opposite to regular loading patterns, so you could expect to find wind slabs on slopes you wouldn't normally.
This overlies previous hard surfaces or a melt-freeze crust that extends up to 1800 m.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, a weak layer in the form of a crust may exist up to 100 cm deep, particularly in the alpine with areas of shallow snowpack.
The remainder of the snowpack is reportedly strong with various hard crusts.
Snow depths vary throughout the region, ranging from 150 to 300 cm at treeline and tapering rapidly below.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy with trace snow, alpine winds northwest 30 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature dropping to -20 ºC.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow, north alpine winds 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -27 ºC.
Friday
Sunny with no new snow, north alpine winds 60 to 70 km/h, treeline temperature -30 ºC.
Saturday
Sunny with no new snow, north alpine winds 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -30 ºC.
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.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
North winds continue to form fresh wind slab.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, wind slabs could fail on a buried crust, up to 100 cm deep. This is most likely in alpine areas with a shallow snowpack in wind-affect terrain; like southwest slopes.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5