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

Mar 22nd, 2023–Mar 23rd, 2023

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

Regions

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

Watch for lingering wind slabs that may remain reactive to human triggering.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday A few naturally triggered small loose wet avalanches were observed with one large (size 2) that initiated in a steep rocky feature in the alpine running onto the glacier below. A noted natural small (size 1) wind slab avalanche on a northeast aspect in the alpine was reported. Additional reports of large (size 2) glide slab avalanches occurring on a south aspect in terrain with rock slab features being the ground roughness characteristic.

On Monday, numerous small wet loose avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep, rocky solar slopes at higher elevations.

On Sunday, several loose wet, large (size 2), avalanches were observed below treeline. A skier controlled, small (size 1), wind slab avalanche was reported at 1400 m on a northeast aspect.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Variable winds have built wind slabs on exposed terrain features near ridgetop. Below 1800 m moist snow or a refrozen melt freeze crust covers the surface. The crust extends up to 2000 m on solar aspects.

The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts.

The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. This layer has produced limited recent avalanche activity, however it can quickly become active again with any significant change to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged and extensive warming.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mainly clear with cloudy periods. Moderate southwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature low -6°C. Freezing levels descending to 200 m .

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest ridgetop winds easing to light by mid day. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing levels 1400 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace amounts of accumulation. Light southeast winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels 1000 m

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light northwest winds at ridgetop. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing levels 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.