Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 13th, 2023–Feb 14th, 2023

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

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Expect to find wind slabs in lee terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Poor visibility led to only a few avalanche observations over the weekend, including evidence of a natural cycle of large (size 2 to 3) wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine. We anticipate receiving more avalanche observations as the clouds clear.

Looking ahead, riders could still trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features as they slowly bond to the snowpack. There is also a possibility of triggering deeper layers described in the Snowpack Summary.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snowfall amounts accumulated across the region over the weekend but most areas received around 20 cm with strong southwest wind. The wind scoured wind-exposed terrain and formed wind slabs in lee terrain features.

A melt-freeze crust is found about 80 cm deep, with reported good bonding to it. An old surface hoar layer from early January may be found about 100 to 150 cm. Neither of these layers have produced recent avalanches.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -13 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -11 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 to 60 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -9 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -9 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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.