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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 26th, 2024–Jan 27th, 2024

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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

Assess for storm slabs before committing to steep or high-consequence terrain, especially during periods of strong wind and snowfall.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday several small natural and rider-triggered wind slab avalanches were observed in mountains northeast of Hazelton.

On Tuesday, a small (size 1.5) naturally triggered wind slab suspected to be a day old, was observed out of a steep north-facing alpine chute in the Hankin-Evelyn area.

The potential for triggering avalanches is likely to increase with the forecast precipitation, warm temperatures and wind.

Snowpack Summary

At treeline elevations and below, the upper snowpack is moist or wet due to warm temperatures and rain. 25-40 cm of new snow has accumulated over the last few days creating a storm slab. On north and east faces these slabs are likely to be thicker due to recent winds.

In the lower snowpack, a crust formed in early January as well as two deeper surface hoar layers exist. These layers have become unlikely to trigger, but there is potential for small avalanches to overload these deeper layers triggering a larger step-down avalanche.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 2-5 cm of snow / light rain, southwest alpine wind 50-60 km/h, treeline temperature 0°C, freezing level 1000m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 2-9 cm of new snow / or light rain, southwest alpine wind 40-60 km/h, treeline temperature high 1°C, freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with trace to 1-3 cm of new snow / or light rain, southwest alpine wind 30-40 km/h, treeline temperature 3°C, freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 2-5 cm of new snow / or light rain, southeast alpine wind 30- 40 km/h, treeline temperature 1°C, freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous 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.

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.