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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2025–Jan 21st, 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.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Avalanche activity has decreased, but reactivity may remain in wind-affected areas.

Seek out sheltered terrain if winds are moving snow and forming fresh slabs.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity appears to have tapered since the storm with wind and persistent slabs observed through to Saturday. Activity primarily occurred on north through east aspects at alpine elevations.

This size 2 rider triggered avalanche occurred on an east facing alpine slope. Notably, the avalanche was triggered as a wind slab and stepped down to the buried weak layer. Photo below.

Snowpack Summary

20 cm of recent storm snow has been heavily wind affected in exposed areas. A crust exists below 1250 m, making for challenging travel conditions.

Check out this MIN for a conditions update near Smithers.

A weak layer of facets and a crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This has shown recent reactivity with the new load from wind and snow. Reactivity moving forward is uncertain.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Increasing cloud with flurries. 40 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

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.