Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Jan 30 – 31, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Conditions vary throughout the region and observations are limited. If you're heading to deep snowpack areas in the region, differ to the NW Coast bulletin.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    New winds slabs are expected to be larger on the west side of the region where recent accumulations were the greatest. Watch for triggering below ridge crests and on steep convex rolls. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    New snow has been slowly accumulating over a layer of facets and surface hoar. In some areas, recent rain may have destroyed the layer. In other areas, the overlying slab may be primed for human triggering.

Confidence

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Sunday: Cloudy with a chance of flurries and sunny breaks late in the day. The freezing level is near valley bottom. Winds are generally light. Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is near valley bottom and ridge winds are light or moderate from the NW. Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is at valley bottom and ridge winds are light or moderate from the NW.

Avalanche Summary

There have been very few recent observations, although one report indicated numerous avalanches to size 3 occurred in low elevation terrain in the far west of the region. These avalanches likely occurred on Tuesday or Wednesday and failed in response to rain and warming below treeline. With forecast cooling, this type of activity should taper-off. Expect recently formed wind slabs to be sensitive to human triggering at higher elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Generally light amounts of new snow fell in the mountains around Smithers this week, while closer to 50 cm fell in areas further west. Strong winds may have redistributed much of this new snow into reactive wind slabs at higher elevations. Lower elevations likely have a dusting of new snow on a hard rain crust. There is a notable persistent weakness of buried surface hoar in many places, generally found between 25 and 60 cm deep. Wind and milder temperatures may have helped to promote slab development in the snow overlying this interface. Stay tuned to signs of instability like recent avalanches, whumpfing (reported in a few areas), and shooting cracks. The mid pack was reported to be well settled, although various levels of faceting can be certainly be expected in the lower snowpack.

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