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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2025–Mar 6th, 2025

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

Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Uncertainty exists around reactivity of buried weak layers. Use careful route-finding and stick to low-consequence slopes away from overhead hazard.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Monday, explosive control work in the Bulkley area produced widely propagating slab avalanches size 2 to 3, some of which involved buried weak layers.

Our field team reported size 2 natural wind slab avalanches in the Telkwas on Tuesday and Babines on Wednesday. They also observed easy propagating snowpack test results on the February layer.

Looking forward, human triggering of wind affected snow and persistent weak layers remains possible.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has been wind affected in exposed terrain. South-facing slopes and low elevations hold a surface crust.

A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust formed during the February drought, are buried 30 to 50 cm deep and give easy results in snowpack tests.

Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but remains an isolated concern.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Mostly clear. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow above 1200m, light rain below. 60 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

Problems

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.

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.