Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2023–Jan 2nd, 2023

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, 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.

Regions

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

Use extra caution at treeline and below where persistent weak layers have been most reactive. Be aware that wind slabs could step down to these layers.

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off but human triggering of persistent slabs is still possible.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a skier accidental persistent slab avalanche was reported. The size 1.5 avalanche slid on a layer of depth hoar and facets close to the ground.

In the last few days several avalanches have been triggered at treeline and below on the layer of facets formed during the recent period of arctic air. Triggers have included vehicle remotes, skier remotes, naturals and explosives. These avalanches have generally ranged in size from 1 to 2.

Snowpack Summary

5 -10 cm of new snow has buried a widespread layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline. Wind-affected surfaces are found in exposed areas at higher elevations and below treeline cross-loading will likely be found in all coastal inlets due to recent outflow. Below 1000 m a crust exists on or near the surface.

40 to 70cm overlies a weak layer formed during the previous period of arctic air. In the alpine this layer is generally facets but surface hoar could be found. At treeline it is more likely to find surface hoar at this interface in sheltered terrain.

A layer of surface hoar and facets from early December can be found down 70 to 100cm. recently this layer has not been reactive but still produces sudden results in snowpack tests.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1-5 cm accumulation. Light southerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 40km/h. A low of -4 at 1500m. Freezing levels 500m.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 30 to 50 km/h. A high of -5 at 1500m. Freezing levels 500m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with sunny periods with isolated flurries, 1-5cm accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 km/h. A high of -7 at 1500m. Freezing levels 400m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 km/h. A high of -7 at 1500m. Freezing levels valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

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.

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.