Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Stewart, West Stikine.
Recent snow is producing natural and human triggered avalanches.
Very large avalanches are still a concern in alpine terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent snow and wind has produced a number of large and small natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches on all aspects and at all elevations.
On Thursday:
Two size 3 persistent slab avalanches were reported on southerly aspects in the alpine, both avalanches stepped down to layers from December. One of them was remote triggered from 30 m away!
On Wednesday:
A size 3 natural triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported on a north aspect in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
There has been 30 to 60 cm of new snow since Wednesday, with southwest wind depositing more in lee areas.
This adds to previous snow, burying a surface hoar layer that is between 50 - 90cm deep.
Buried weak layers from December, 150 to 250 cm deep, include crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar, and continue to produce large avalanches.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 20 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -22 °C.
Sunday
Sunny. 30 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -22 °C.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 to 80 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent snow continues to produce natural and human triggered avalanches, in some cases stepping down to layers from early December.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
The 150 to 250 cm deep weak layer from early December continues to produce large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2.5 - 3.5