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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 4th, 2025–Feb 5th, 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 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

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

It could be challenging to find riding that is both low risk and fun…

The persistent slab problem is concerning in sheltered terrain and exposed terrain is scoured or has wind slab present

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past 3 days numerous rider triggered wind and persistent slab avalanches have been reported. These avalanches have generally been size 1’s at treeline. They have occurred on a variety of aspects.

The persistent slab avalanches were triggered on the surface hoar layer from mid January that is described in the snowpack summary.

Snowpack Summary

Strong to extreme northeast outflow wind continues to 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.

100 to 200 cm deep in the snowpack are layers of crust, facets, and possibly surface hoar that were buried in December and have not been recently reactive in this forecast area.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear skies. 40 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Wednesday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny in the morning and increasing cloud throughout the day. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of snow in the early morning. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °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.

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.