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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 11th, 2024–Feb 12th, 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, 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, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Assess the bond of the new snow to the old surface, reactive slabs may overlie a buried weak layer.

You can always choose sheltered, mellow terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-1.5 slab avalanches were reported on Saturday. Many of these avalanches were triggered remotely, failing on the buried weak crystals detailed in the Snowpack Summary. Some riders felt a whumpf when approaching the slope. Thanks for the MIN reports.

A size 2 natural wind slab was also observed near Terrace.

Looking ahead, expect slabs to remain reactive to human-triggering. Use caution at treeline and in other features where surface hoar may be preserved.

Snowpack Summary

In most areas, 15 to 30 cm of new snow has buried a layer of weak, feathery crystals. Expect to find reactive wind slabs on north- through east-facing slopes, where southwest winds have redistributed this new snow.

This overlies firm wind-affected surfaces or 10 to 30 cm of settled dry snow in sheltered areas. Below this is a thick and hard melt-freeze crust extending up to approximately 1700 m. This crust is just buried by the 15 to 30 cm of new snow at lower elevations.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Monday

Cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Few clouds. 30 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

A few clouds. 40 to 50km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

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.