Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2023–Apr 1st, 2023

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

8 am update: Be cautious of fresh pockets of wind slab in isolated terrain features at upper elevations.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity over the past week has been limited to small wet loose avalanches and cornice falls during periods of warm sunny weather.

Snowpack Summary

A dusting of new snow is falling on moist or crusty snow layers, except shaded terrain above roughly 1400 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week. The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts. The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. There hasn't been avalanche activity on it recently, but it will remain on our radar this spring as it may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy, light flurries with 3 to 5 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -8 °C with freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, some isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud, isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

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.