Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 19th, 2025–Feb 20th, 2025

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Expect avalanche danger to increase through the day as a storm arrives with snow, wind and warm temperatures.

Retreat to mellower terrain if you see rapid loading or signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a couple small (size 1.5) Dry Loose avalanches were reported in steep, northeast facing alpine terrain.

Several size one storm slab and dry loose avalanches were reported on Sunday. These avalanches ran on a layer of facets and surface hoar just beneath the new snow.

Looking forward, we expect that the incoming weather will make human triggered avalanches more likely.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 30 cm of new snow now overlies a very wind affected surface. Strong to extreme southwest winds will likely be stripping windward terrain, and forming deeper deposits in leeward terrain, possibly further downslope than usual. Also, watch for cross-loading in gullies.

Faceting of the upper snowpack is widespread, and surface hoar up to 8 mm has been buried beneath the new snow at the treeline and below.

Two layers of surface hoar exist between 55 cm and 80 cm beneath the snow surface. There hasn't been much avalanche activity on these layers.

A layer of facets on top of a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. Ridgetop winds increasing to 30 to 50 km/h southwest. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. Rain below 500 m. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow above 750 m, rain below. 50 to 75 km/h south ridgetop wind . Treeline high 0 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 cm of snow above 1000 m, rain below. Treeline high 0 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.

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.

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.