Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Microwave-Sinclair, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames.
Wind slabs may remain reactive to riders.
Recent avalanches on the buried weak layer bring uncertainty. Stick to low angle, supported terrain, free from overhead hazard.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity appears to be tapering since the recent storm. On Saturday a naturally triggered size 3 occurred, likely from solar input, on a southwest slope at treeline. This appeared limited to the recent storm snow.
Several size 2 wind slab avalanches on east and southeast slopes in the alpine were reported on Friday.
Size 3 avalanches were observed during the storm, running on the buried weak layer 100-200 cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
Light snowfall will bury a large surface hoar layer on shaded slopes, and a crust on sun affected slopes. Previous storm accumulations of up to 80 cm were wind-affected by west/southwest winds in exposed areas. Settling storm snow can still be found in sheltered areas but tapers rapidly with elevation to a firm melt freeze crust.
50 to 100 cm deep a layer of surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust exists.
A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets overlying a crust is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Clear skies with increasing cloud. 20 to 30 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. A small above-freezing layer sits around 1500 m overnight.
Monday
Cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow possible for coastal areas, 2 cm expected for Shames. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures start the day at -10 °C and rise to -4 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with no snow. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs. Potential remains for slabs to step down to deeper persistent weak layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
A widespread crust with facets is buried 120-200 cm deep. While this layer exists on all aspects, it's most likely to be triggered by a heavy load on wind-loaded slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5