Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, North Bulkley, Northwest Inland, 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
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, numerous natural avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported. A natural persistent slab avalanche size 2.5 was also reported. This avalanche failed on the early December facet crust layer. This was from a northeast aspect around 1700 m. Changing winds and new snow may build fresh and reactive wind slabs on many aspects Friday. Natural activity may taper but the snowpack sounds primed for human triggering.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 cm of snow fell by Thursday. Strong southwest winds will likely redistribute the storm snow onto leeward slopes building thicker slabs on lee slopes. The new snow may have a poor bond to south-facing slopes and areas below 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
Thursday Night
Cloudy with light flurries. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level drops to the valley bottom.
Friday
Sunny. 30 gusting to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Sunny with some cloud. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 25 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
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.
- Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for newly formed and reactive 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, South West.
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 - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3