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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 20th, 2025–Feb 21st, 2025

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

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson.

Choose conservative, low consequence terrain

Storm slabs have been sensitive to rider traffic due to underlying weak layers

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday several size 1 skier triggered persistent and storm slab avalanches were reported. These avalanches were on north and south aspects at treeline and above, they were easy to trigger due to surface hoar beneath.

Snowpack Summary

By Friday morning 15 to 35 cm of recent storm snow may have fallen with southerly wind forming deeper deposits on northerly aspects. This recent snow will overlie a variety of surfaces including a layer of surface hoar in sheltered terrain and wind-affected snow or a sun crust in exposed terrain.

Two layers of surface hoar from January can be found in the top meter of the snowpack.

A layer of facets on top of a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm of mixed precipitation. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 15 to 30 mm of mixed precipitation. 20 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 15 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.