Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Feb 6 – 7, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Continually assess conditions as you move through terrain

Cold temperatures are softening the upper snowpack, avalanches are most likely where the snowpack feels “slabby”

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Strong outflow (northeast) wind has formed wind slabs on south and west aspects at all elevations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    On terrain features that have been protected from the wind, you are likely to find surface hoar . This layer is down 50 cm and has been reactive to rider traffic.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanches were reported on Tuesday but numerous dry loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed in steep alpine terrain.

Over the weekend numerous rider triggered wind and persistent slab avalanches were reported. These avalanches were generally size 1’s at treeline. They have occurred on a variety of aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme northeast outflow wind has scour windward terrain at all elevations. In sheltered terrain 20 to 40 cm of snow overlies a surface hoar layer from late January.

Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 50 cm deep.

A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried  100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C, potential for temperature inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of snow. 10 to 20 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
  • Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.

Regions covered