Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Feb 2 – 3, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

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.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Strong northeast wind has reverse or cross-loaded slopes at all elevations. The recent 20 to 40 cm of snow may bond slowly to underlying layers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2.5–4

    The 100 to 200 cm deep weak layer from early December continues to produce large avalanches.

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.

Regions covered