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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Feb 1st, 2023–Feb 2nd, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Howson, Kitimat, Nass, Northwest Coastal, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, West Stikine.

Storm Slab will develop as the week progresses. Monitor closely the bond between the storm snow and the layer it sits on and be particularly cautious in wind loaded features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small wind slab avalanches were reported across the region on Tuesday.

Larger avalanches on more deeply buried persistent week layers were reported late last week during a warm spell.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of new snow overlays various wind-affected surfaces in alpine terrain and widespread, supportive, melt-freeze crusts at lower elevations (roughly 1900 m and below). Much of this new snow is being blown into wind slab by southwest winds.

The mid and lower snowpack continues to bond and stabilize while a number of buried weak layers remain a concern and have produced a number of large recent avalanches.

Weather Summary

Wednesday nightCloudy. 10-15 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 20 km/h. Temperature -2 C.

Thursday

Cloudy. 10 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 20 km/h. Temperature -2 C.

Friday

Cloudy. 10 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 20 km/h. Temperature up to 0 C in the alpine with freezing levels to 800 m.

Saturday

Cloudy. 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the south at 15 km/h. Temperature up to 0 C with freezing levels coming up to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • This avalanche problem is difficult to trigger but if so, consequences are serious.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

As the storm continues through the week, the storm slab will thicken. The slab will take time to bond to the layers below it. Wind will also make this slab thicker on lee aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2

Persistent Slabs

A more deeply buried weak layer still presents a Low Probability/High Consequence situation. This layer would be most easily triggered in places where the snowpack is shallow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5