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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2023–Feb 4th, 2023

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 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, human triggered possible.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Suspect unstable snow anywhere the surface snow is heavy and altered by the wind.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few new small natural and human triggered wind slab and loose dry avalanches have been reported in the region.

Larger avalanches on more deeply buried persistent weak layers were reported last week during a warm spell, like this one in the Telkwa area last Friday. Persistent problems like this one will be slow to change and improve.

If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Ongoing snowfall over recent days has accumulated around 40 cm of fresh snow that is being affected by recent southwest winds. This all sits on a crust from the warming event on January 25th. Some of this new snow has been blown into wind slabs that can be easily triggered on the 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 number of large avalanches last week.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Flurries up to 5 cm, with higher amounts north of Hazelton. Ridge wind 30-40 km/h from the southwest. Temperature -4 °C.

Saturday

Flurries up to 5 cm. Ridge wind 20-30 km/h from the southwest. Temperature -3 °C.

Sunday

Clearing. Possible flurries. Ridge wind 40-60 km/h from the west and northwest. Temperature -2 °C.

Monday

5-10 cm with possible rain up to 900 m. Ridge wind 40-60 km/h from the west. Freezing level to 1100 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.