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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

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

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

Natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5 continue to be reported in the region. These avalanches have been on south and west aspects at treeline and above.

Deep persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported as well. These avalanches are up to size 4 and typically being triggered in the.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate to strong northeast outflow wind continues to scour windward terrain and load leeward slopes at all elevations. In sheltered terrain 30 to 60 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 to 100 cm deep.

Weak layers from December are 150 to 300 cm deep. These include crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar, and continue to produce large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear skies. 30 to 50 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C, potential for temperature inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Thursday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C, potential for temperature inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

Friday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C, potential for temperature inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.

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.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.