Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Jan 18 – 19, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The recent storm snow will need time to settle and stabilize, and human triggering is likely.

Deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs. Potential remains for slabs to step down to deeper persistent weak layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3.5

    A widespread crust with weak facets overtop 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.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, reports of a natural avalanche cycle occurred during the storm up to size 3. In the Shames backcountry, numerous avalanches up to size 2 were reported.

Natural avalanche activity will likely taper but human triggered avalanches are likely through the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Earlier this week, the storm dropped 30 to 80 cm of snow across the region. Strong to extreme west through southwest wind created widespread wind effect, with deeper deposits of snow on leeward slopes. Forecast changing winds may start to load southerly aspects throughout the weekend. The recent storm snow tapers dramatically with elevation. and 5 to 10 cm sits above a firm melt-freeze crust.

Down 50 to 100 cm 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

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom. Above freezing layer in the alpine.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 gusting to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Regions covered