Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart.
As natural activity tapers off remember human triggering is still very likely.
Avalanches continue to be triggered from flat adjacent terrain and are propagating widely.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Remotely triggered avalanches continue, with slabs to size 2.5 triggered from flat, non-avalanche terrain. Remote triggers indicate a sensitive snowpack and the need for very conservative terrain choices. Recent avalanches mostly occurred on north and east facing slopes at treeline and above, on both buried weak layers up to 100 cm deep.
While natural activity may have tapered off in some areas, this is not a sure sign of stability given the weak snowpack structure.
Snowpack Summary
40-70 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by strong winds at upper elevations. Soft snow can still be found in terrain sheltered from winds. This snow sits over facets, crust, and surface hoar in sheltered terrain. Reports show this is not bonding well, producing ongoing reactivity including remote avalanches.
A thick crust with weak facets on top is buried 50-100 cm deep. This layer has been problematic in the last 3 days, producing step-down avalanches.
Below, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy with possible flurries. 20-40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. Possible flurries. 30-50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30-50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with some sunny breaks. 20-30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
- Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind affected snow can be found on most aspects. Watch for 'typical wind loaded features near ridgelines, and unusual features like cross-loaded gullies and ribs or wind deposited snow lower on slope than normal.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Two layers of concern sit in the upper metre of the snowpack, consisting of crust, facets and surface hoar. These are likely to be most reactive in sheltered north and east facing terrain, where weak layers are more easily preserved.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5