Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.
Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency. Choose low-consequence terrain and avoid exposure to overhead hazard.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several large and very large, accidental, and remotely triggered slab avalanches continue to occur across the region. Some have been triggered from low-angle or flat terrain onto adjacent or overhead slopes. We expect the potential for riders to trigger avalanches will remain elevated over the following days.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 20 cm of new snow brings the recent storm snow to a total of 40 to 80 cm, forming reactive slabs across the region. Several persistent weak layers are now buried between 80 and 160 cm deep, including hard crusts with overlying weak facets and surface hoar. Ongoing avalanche activities have been reported on these weak layers.
At lower elevations, the upper snowpack may be moist or crusty.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 40 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around - 3 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1100 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5-10 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent weak layers including crust/facet combos and buried surface hoar continue producing surprising avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Storm Slabs
Ongoing snowfall and winds have formed reactive storm slabs. The largest and most reactive are expected to be on northerly aspects. Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2