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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Nov 23rd, 2024–Nov 24th, 2024

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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Avalanches are becoming harder to trigger but are most likely to fail on steep, wind-loaded slopes, particularly near ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wednesday: North of Stewart, a natural cycle of size 1.5 to 2.5 wind slab avalanches occurred on leeward south through west faces. Shooting cracks, which are a sign of instability, were also reported by snowmobilers. These wind slabs are becoming less reactive to human triggering as time passes.

Early season reports have been extremely limited, especially in areas near Terrace. Please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find sastrugi and hard wind-scoured surfaces in all open wind-exposed areas at upper elevations. Thick wind slabs previously formed on many lee slopes, the greatest uncertainty lies in how long these slabs will take to bond. A rain crust from early November is buried 50 to 100 cm deep in the alpine. In isolated, sheltered areas, a layer of surface hoar may be found 60 cm+ deep.Snow depths vary across the region but generally range from 100 to 200 cm in the alpine and about 50 cm at 1000 m.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 15 to 20 km/h southeast wind. Treeline temperature 10 °C.

Sunday

Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h northeast wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 15 km/h southeast wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.
  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.

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.