Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Stikine, Northwest Coastal, Stewart, West Stikine.
Assess conditions as you go, it is early season, so field observations are limited.
A weak layer of snow near the bottom of the snowpack means there is the potential for large avalanches.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Last week's storm produced some large natural avalanches. Avalanche activity has tapered since the storm. No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days.
Observations are very limited at this time of year. If you do head out, do so with a cautious and investigative mindset, and consider submitting a MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures and rain at lower elevations have made for moist and heavy snow on the surface.
Observations are limited, but a problematic crust/facet combination exists near the base of the snowpack and above 1500m in the Bear Pass and Ningunsaw area (likely elsewhere too). With total snowpack depths around 150 cm at 1000m, this layer is a concern for human triggering, particularly in shallow or variable depth snowpack areas in the alpine.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Mostly cloudy with light flurries, west alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -1°C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a chance of light flurries, southwest alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C.
Monday
Cloudy with 10-15cm accumulation, southwest alpine wind 60 to 80 km/h, treeline temperature -3°C.
Tuesday
Mostly clear with no precipitation, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -9°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Northwest wind accompanying last week's storm have formed lingering wind slabs in the alpine and treeline.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of sugary facets overlying a crust have been reported near the base of the snowpack. Observations of this layer have been limited, but it is most likely to be problematic in steep, wind-loaded alpine terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3