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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2024–Jan 21st, 2024

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Continued wind and new snow will increase the avalanche hazard in the alpine and exposed treeline. Find good snow in sheltered terrain.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday and Friday we received reports of natural wind slab activity up to size 1.5 on many aspects. Check out this MIN for conditions near Seaton.

We also received a report of a size 2 natural wind slab avalanche that stepped down to a deeper weak layer. Perhaps this is one of the buried surface hoar layers mentioned in the snowpack summary, though we haven't seen any other avalanches on those layers in the last month.

Snowpack Summary

Storm totals may reach 10-20 cm by Sunday afternoon, redistributed into deeper deposits by strong winds. Winds have varied, from north/easterly outflows to strong southerlies. Storm snow sits over old wind slabs or other hard, faceted (weak) surfaces, which increases reactivity as it resists bonding.

In sheltered areas, up to 50 cm of low density snow sits on a decomposing rain crust up to 1650 m.

Two surface hoar layers can be found buried 60-90 cm deep and have become unlikely to trigger. These layers may be affected by step down avalanches in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy, trace to 3 cm of snow possible. Southerly winds 10-30 km/h. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy, with 5 cm of snow possible during the day. Southerly winds 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy, flurries possible. Southerly winds 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, flurries possible. Southerly winds 30-50 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

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.