Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2025–Jan 26th, 2025

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.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Warm temperatures up high may increase the likelihood of triggering an avalanche.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, two large (size 2) wind slabs failed naturally on steep northeast aspects in the alpine.

Several natural and rider-triggered avalanches, up to size 2.5, were reported on the 18th and 19th of January. A number of these reports occurred on the weak layer from early December.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snow has been heavily wind-affected in exposed areas. A crust exists below 1250 m, making for challenging travel conditions.

A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried roughly 50 to 100 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Clear. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C with a temperature inversion.

Sunday

A mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C with a temperature inversion.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C, inversion breaking down.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.