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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2025–Feb 2nd, 2025

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

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

Snow that is being redistributed by the wind will be likely to avalanche.

Deeply buried layers are still a concern in very large alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One very large natural avalanche was observed on Wednesday (size 3.5) on a northerly aspect at 1800 m. This likely failed on the buried weak layer from December described in the snowpack summary.

Ongoing sluffing of the new snow and small wind slabs (less than size 2) in steep areas are being observed throughout the region.

Snowpack Summary

There has been 20 to 40 cm of new snow since Wednesday. This new snow fell on a mix of:

  • Large surface hoar crystals in sheltered spots at treeline and below

  • Crusts on solar slopes

  • Old wind-affected snow

These types of snow may result in a weak layer moving forward.

Strong northeast winds will now reverse load features at all elevations.

A layer of surface hoar from early January is buried 20 to 60 cm deep, though it's uncertain whether this layer will persist.

100 to 200 cm deep in the snowpack are layers of crust, facets, and possibly surface hoar that were buried in December.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 20 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 40 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 50 to 70 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded terrain features.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.