Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. 0-5 centimeters of snow expected. Strong southwest winds, trending to extreme west at higher elevations. Freezing level around 1250 m in the south end of the region, 500 m in the north.

Monday: Cloud clearing through the day. 0-5 cm of snow expected. Wind decreasing over the day, becoming moderate from the north by the afternoon. Freezing levels dropping to valley bottom.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light variable winds. Treeline high around -7 °C. 

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. 2-8 cm of snow expected. Winds increasing over the day, strong to extreme southwest by the afternoon. Treeline high around -7 °C.

Remember that a lack of avalanche observations in your area does not necessarily mean there was a lack of avalanche activity. If you are getting out in the backcountry, and have conditions information, or even just good vibes and good photos to share, consider making a post on the Mountain Information Network (MIN). 

Saturday:

- Professional operations north of Hazelton reported several small, rider triggered storm slab avalanches around treeline.

-A professional operation around the Ningunsaw area reported a small, rider triggered storm slab avalanche around treeline, sliding on a layer of surface hoar that was buried on January 14th. 

Friday:

-A professional operation northeast of Hazleton reported a large, rider triggered wind slab avalanche below a ridgetop on a northwest aspect in the alpine. Several other people had ridden the slope just before it avalanched. The avalanche was an average of 70 cm deep and 50 m wide, and it ran for 150 m.

Thursday:

- A professional operation in the Ningunsaw area reported an explosive triggered size 3 deep persistent slab avalanche that failed on basal facets. This avalanche was on a generally northeast facing feature around treeline, and it started just below a ridge crest. 

Snow tapers off by Monday morning, freezing levels start dropping, and wind increases again to strong from the south. Expect to find reactive storm slabs in the alpine, especially in areas exposed to the wind. And wet or refrozen snow below treeline.

Due to fluctuating freezing levels, riding conditions could be tricky around treeline and below. You may find a hard or breakable crust, or dense, grabby snow. This may sit on top of less dense snow, making the upper snowpack a little upside down.

The mid snowpack is generally strong, and is mostly old wind slabs and settled snow.

The base of the snowpack is composed of crusts and weak faceted grains, particularly in thin snowpack areas. We are not currently expecting avalanches to fail this deep in the snowpack.

• Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
• Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
• Recent new snow may be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.
• Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.