Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 12th, 2025–Apr 13th, 2025

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, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Forecasted snowfall amounts are highly variable, assess your local field conditions and if new snowfall accumulations exceed 20 cm bump your danger rating to CONSIDERABLE.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A natural wet slab avalanche was reported in the seton area at 1500 m that was likely triggered over the last weekend. The avalanche pulled out all the snow to the ground. Check out the MIN report here.

If you do observe an avalanche, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of new snow covers variably wind-affected snow in open terrain at upper elevations. A crust is found up to 2000 m and higher on solar slopes.

Below 1100 m the snowpack is wet and unconsolidated.

Two layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack.

A layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 60 to 100 cm.
A layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, and there are no current concerns.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with flurries. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 10 cm snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1200 m..

Monday

Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1°C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries. 30 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1100 m..

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.

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.