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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 21st, 2025–Jan 22nd, 2025

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.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Make conservative terrain choices due to a reactive buried weak layer, along with ongoing wind and storm slab formation throughout the day on Wednesday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity on the early December weak layer has steadily decreased in frequency since late last week, but it remains a significant concern. The most recent event, a remote-triggered size 2 avalanche on Sunday, underscores that despite the decreasing frequency, the layer remains reactive in certain terrain features. Reports of large avalanches (size 2 and greater), including remote triggers, over the past week emphasize the ongoing instability of this layer.

Snowpack Summary

Snow on Wednesday will accumulate atop previously wind-affected storm snow. A layer of surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust exists in wind-sheltered areas up to 75 cm below the surface. Reports suggest this layer is bonding well.

The current layer of concern is buried roughly 100 to 200 cm deep - surface hoar, facets, and a crust. This layer produced large natural avalanches during the recent storm and continues to be sensitive to triggering.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with snow beginning early in the morning. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 10 to 25 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • 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.