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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 5th, 2024–Dec 6th, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Babine, East Stikine, Howson, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, Northwest Inland, South Bulkley, Telkwa, West Stikine.

Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Our limited field data suggests a natural avalanche cycle occurred in the past few days as rain and warm temperatures infiltrated the region. Slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported in the Smithers and Seaton areas.

If you head to the backcountry please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accumulates atop a moist, and in some places isothermal, snowpack from rain in the past few days. Strong winds will create heavily wind-affected surfaces and redistribute new snow into fresh wind slabs.

We'll need to reassess whether two surface hoar layers in the mid-snowpack have survived or been cleaned out by the rain.

Deeper in the snowpack, a rain crust from early November seems to be bonding well to the surrounding snow.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 mm of precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridge top wind. Freezing level drops to 1600 m. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridge top wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °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.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow and wind may form fresh, reactive wind slabs in lee areas.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Wet

Wet loose avalanches are possible on steep slopes in areas where rain and warm temperatures have weakened the snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5