Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Babine, East Stikine, Hudson Bay, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, Northwest Inland, South Bulkley, Telkwa, West Stikine.
Use caution at all elevations. Recent snow and wind will likely form wind slab in exposed terrain and add to the slab forming above a buried surface hoar layer.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the past couple days.
If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15 cm of recent storm snow accompanied by southerly wind will have formed wind slab on northerly aspects. This new snow will also overlie another layer of surface hoar at 1200 m, below this elevation it will bury a crust. 40 to 60 cm of previous storm snow sits above a large layer of surface hoar. This layer likely exists on all aspects above 1200 m.
In general, the snowpack is still shallow for this time of year with snowpack depths at treeline ranging from 50 to 100 cm. Early season hazards are still a concern.
Check out this MIN from our field team.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with up to 3 cm of new snow expected, west alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C with a possible temperature inversion.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected, northwest alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, freezing level rising to 1000 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, Temperature inversion with a high of -2°C at treeline.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected, southeast alpine wind 25 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -5°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
30 to 60 cm of previous storm snow is forming a slab over large surface hoar crystals. Surface hoar is more likely to be well preserved at treeline but could exist at all elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Wind direction has been variable in the past day. Wind slab could exist on all aspects at treeline and above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2