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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 27th, 2025–Jan 28th, 2025

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

Regions

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

As the temperature drops, the avalanche danger should follow.

It may still be possible to trigger deep weak layers in thin snowpack areas.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A rider triggered a large (size 2.5) slab avalanche on a southeast alpine slope on Sunday. The slab ranged from 20 to 100 cm deep with wind loading variability. The slab may have released on the persistent weak layer described in the Snowpack Summary. See this MIN for more information.

Snowpack Summary

Recent warmth then cooling is expected to have created a crust on all aspects, except perhaps treeline and above on northerly slopes.

The surface has been heavily wind-affected in exposed areas. A crust exists below 1250 m, making for challenging travel conditions.

A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried roughly 50 to 100 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with 5 to 10 cm of snow overnight and 2 cm during the day. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid thin areas like rocky outcrops where you're most likely to trigger avalanches on deep weak layers.
  • Avoid steep terrain that is rocky and thin.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.

Problems

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.

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.