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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2021–Feb 2nd, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland.

Wind slabs at upper elevations continue to be touchy to skier and rider triggers, especially where they sit above a buried surface hoar/ crust layer.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack. Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind light from the northeast. Alpine temperatures near -13 and freezing levels valley bottom. Possible alpine temperature inversion.

Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 15-35 km/hr from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -9 and freezing levels in the valley bottom.

Thursday: Snow 5-10 cm. Ridgetop wind strong from the southwest and alpine temperatures rising to -3. 

Avalanche Summary

A few small loose dry avalanches (sluffs) were triggered by skiers and released naturally on northern aspects in the alpine in the last couple of days (see this valuable MIN report). 

Sporadic deep persistent slab avalanches were reported 2-3 weeks ago (triggered with heavy loads such as explosives and cornices), but deeper weak layers appear unreactive under the current conditions.

Snowpack Summary

10-30 cm recent low density snow has buried surface hoar, which was reported as widespread below treeline and isolated at sheltered treeline and alpine locations. A buried sun crust can be found on steep solar aspects underneath the new snow. The new snow sits on widespread wind-pressed and scoured surfaces. A thick crust exists near the surface below 1000 m. 

The lower snowpack has two decomposing crust layers that have been causing a deep persistent slab problem for most of the past month, however no notables in the past 2-3 weeks. The upper crust is 70-140 cm deep in the Smithers area and continues to show occasional hard sudden results in snow pits. The deeper crust at the bottom of the snowpack continues to be a problem in shallow ranges like the Babines. These layers should be unreactive under the current conditions, but shallow rocky slopes should still be carefully assessed and approached with caution. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.
  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

Problems

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.