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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2023–Feb 4th, 2023

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

Continued snowfall and warm temperatures will keep hazard elevated into the weekend. Wind loaded or steep terrain can produce large avalanches at all elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Some large avalanches have been reported but there has been limited observations submitted given the visibility.

Large avalanches on more deeply buried persistent weak layers are continuing to be reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of new snow overlays various wind-affected surfaces in alpine terrain and a widespread, supportive, melt-freeze crusts 1800 m and below. Much of this new snow is being blown into thick wind slab by southwest winds.

The new snow is not bonding well to this crust.

The mid and lower snowpack continues to bond and stabilize while a number of buried weak layers remain a concern and have produced a few large avalanches recently.

Weather Summary

Friday nightCloudy. 2-5 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 30 km/h. Freezing level 1000m, -5 at 2000m.

Saturday

Cloudy. 5-10 cm of new snow with rain possible to 800m. Wind from the southwest at 60 km/h up to 70 km/h in the alpine . Freezing levels to 1000 m

Sunday

Scattered clouds. Possible flurries. Wind from the west and north at 30-40 km/h. Temperature -2 °C

Monday

Cloudy. 15-20 cm of new snow with rain at valley bottom. Wind from the southwest at 30-50 km/h. Freezing level 900m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.