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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 2nd, 2023–Feb 3rd, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Avalanches can be most likely triggered in areas where recent snow has stiffened into a slab over a slippery underlying crust.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few new small natural and human triggered wind slab and loose dry avalanches have been reported in the region.

Larger avalanches on more deeply buried persistent week layers were reported last week during a warm spell, like this one in the Telkwa area last Friday. These are good reminders that although conditions may have improved, buried weak layers still exist, with potential to produce large avalanches.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing snowfall over recent days has accumulated 40-50 cm of storm snow over crusty surfaces from the warming event on January 25th. Some of this new snow has been blown into wind slabs that can be easily triggered on the slippery crust.

The mid and lower snowpack continues to bond and stabilize while a number of buried weak layers remain a concern and have produced a number of large recent avalanches.

Weather Summary

Thursday night

5-10 cm of new snow. Ridge wind 50-60 km/h from the south. Temperature -4 C.

Friday

5-10 cm of new snow, with higher amounts north of Hazelton. Ridge wind 20-30 km/h from the southwest. Temperature -3 C.

Saturday

5 cm of new snow. Ridge wind 30-40 km/h. Temperature -2 C.

Sunday

Clearing. Ridge wind 40-50 km/h from the west. Temperature -2 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.