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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2023–Feb 5th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles. Large rider triggerable avalanches are possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

In the north of the forecast region a skier controlled size 1.5storm slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was triggered at treeline on a crust layer from late January. The slab was 50cm deep.

Large avalanches on more deeply buried persistent weak layers are continuing to be reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 80cm of recent storm snow overlies facets and various wind-affected surfaces in alpine terrain. At treeline a widespread, supportive, melt-freeze crust can be found up to 1800m and at all elevations on steep solar slopes. Much of this new snow is being blown into thick wind slab by southwest winds and will not bond well to the underlying surfaces. This MIN does a good job showcasing this.

The new snow is not bonding well to the underlying surfaces.

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

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Stormy with 5 to 15cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Moderate southerly winds at ridgetops. Freezing level falling to 900mthroughout the night.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Moderate to strong southwest winds and a high of -6 at 1500m.

Monday

Stormy with 20 to 50cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Strong southwest winds and freezing level rising to 1100m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -6 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.