Regions
Northwest Inland.
Strong winds continue leading to a variety of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Look to sheltered terrain for the best riding, and be aware of what is above you.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with light to moderate snow – 5-10 cm. The freezing level is around 800 m and ridge winds are moderate to strong from the south. WEDNESDAY: Sunny breaks. The freezing level gradually climbs to 1200-1400 m. Ridge winds are light increasing to strong from the SE. THURSDAY: Periods of snow. The freezing level dips back to 800-1000 m and winds are moderate from the S-SE.
Avalanche Summary
One size 3 natural storm slab was observed in the Southwest corner of the region on Sunday. This slide probably occurred 1-2 days earlier. It released on a northeast aspect in the alpine. Last week, a size 3 deep persistent slab avalanche was accidentally triggered by a skier in alpine terrain in the north of the region. The slab, which ran on basal facets, was up to 200cm deep, 200m wide and 500m long. There have been a handful of recent similar avalanches triggered on basal facets in the mountains north of Kispiox.
Snowpack Summary
10-30 cm of snow has fallen in the past week with the highest accumulations occurring in the southwest of the region. Strong to extreme ridgetop winds have shifted the new snow into new wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine adding to an ongoing wind slab problem. A layer of surface hoar from early January can be found in isolated locations between 60 and 140cm down. There hasn't been any activity reported on this layer for a couple of weeks now and it is becoming less of a concern. In shallower areas the snowpack sits on a weak base layer of facetted snow. Recently, this layer has been active in the north of the region, responsible for several large avalanches in unsupported alpine terrain.
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.