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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2025–Jan 27th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Deeply buried weak layers are slow to heal and require patience.

Choose low angle slopes free from overhead hazards.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, one small rider-controlled storm slab was reported. Failing on surface hoar that was buried on January 20th.

Large avalanches failing on the early December weak layers continue to be reported.

  • On Friday, east of Hazelton a snowcat remotely triggered a large (size 2) persistent slab avalanche.

  • On Thursday, a few large (size 2-2.5) persistent slab avalanches failed on north and east aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of soft snow has been redistributed by southwest wind. Scouring exposed areas and loading lee features. In sheltered areas this snow may sit on a layer of weak surface hoar crystals.

Around 100 to 200 cm deep are buried weak layers from December. Consisting of crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar. These layers continue to produce large avalanches.

The lower snowpack is strong with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear. 20 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C inversion ends.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with 20 to 30 cm of snow overnight and 10 to 15 cm during the day. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.