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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 18th, 2024–Dec 19th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Strong winds and flurries will build fresh slabs.If you see blowing snow, watch out for slabs in leeward terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, explosives triggered several thin wind slabs up to size 2 in open areas above treeline. In the Nigunsaw area, a skier triggered a 35 cm thick slab on a steep roll, failing on large surface hoar on a crust. Evidence of older avalanches to size 2, 20 to 30 cm deep were also reported, failing on either surface hoar or a crust.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of fresh flurries covers 20 to 30 cm older, wind-affected snow.

The crust from early December is now buried 20 to 40 cm. In some areas, large surface hoar crystals are found at this interface. Most recently, the layer was reactive to skiers in the Ningunsaw area.

Below, the lower snowpack has no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Cloudy with incoming flurries, trace to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C

Thursday

Cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south-southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy flurries, trace to 5 cm. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.

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.