Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 7th, 2024–Jan 8th, 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
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
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

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

Westerly winds may build slabs in exposed areas today.

Back off if you observe any signs of instability, such as avalanches, whumpfs, or shooting cracks.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday near Kispiox, size 1.5 avalanches were triggered by machines on steep cut banks at treeline, 60 and 80 cm deep.

Last week, backcountry users experienced whumpfs in the Babines, Grizzly Plateau, and around Hudson Bay Mountain.

These avalanches and the whumpfing are suspected to be failures of the buried surface hoar layers detailed in the Snowpack Summary. These observations suggest that humans could trigger avalanches where these layers remain intact.

Snowpack Summary

Another 5 cm today means up to 30 cm of soft snow exists in areas sheltered from the wind. Westerly winds will likely build reactive slabs on lee terrain features today.

At and below treeline, new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust.

Two or more preserved surface hoar layers can be found buried between 35 cm and 80 cm deep. These layers are most prominent at treeline and below treeline elevations above 1200 m, but they've also been observed in some alpine locations.

Snowpack depths at treeline vary across the region with generally deeper amounts (~150 cm) in the west and shallower (~80 cm) in the east.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with trace snow, west alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, west alpine wind 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -8 ºC. 

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with trace snow, north alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10 ºC. 

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud, north alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -15 ºC. 

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for slabs on lee slopes and cross-loaded features. Wind slabs are likely to be more reactive on steep slopes near ridgetop and on convex rollovers. Assess for slabs before committing to large and consequential terrain features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Several buried surface hoar layers may be found 35 to 80 cm deep. These layers only seem to be a problem at elevations above 1200 m.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5