Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 20th, 2025–Dec 21st, 2025

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, 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

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

Wind slabs have been reactive in the region.

Avoid steep slopes with areas of dense, wind-blown snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.
Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, small but very reactive wind slabs were reported in the MIN.
On Thursday, the field team reported seeing wind slabs in the Hankin area.
On Wednesday, a small human-triggered avalanche was reported in the MIN at Hankin. It noted that 20cm of snow had failed over a crust.

Looking forward, we expect wind slabs to remain reactive on all aspects at upper elevations, especially near ridgetops.

Snowpack Summary

Recent snowfall combined with variable winds has created wind slabs at upper elevations.

In parts of the region within sheltered areas, persistent weak layers of surface hoar are buried 50 to 100 cm deep. The likelihood of triggering these layers is low, but the consequences could be high.

A crust that extends up to around 1400 m, is buried 30 to 50 cm. Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to this crust.

Below 1100 m the snowpack is still marginal, with many early-season hazards and travel there can be difficult.

Snowpack height varies significantly across the region, but averages around 150 cm deep at treeline, tapering quickly with elevation.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. A trace of new snow. 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.

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.