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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2024–Feb 28th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Tricky conditions exist.

Stick to conservative terrain and keep a wide berth from overhead hazard.

Remote avalanches continue and are propagating further than you may expect.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Natural, rider and remotely triggered slab avalanches up to size 2.5 continued to be reported over the past 3 days. Remote triggers indicate a very sensitive snowpack, highlighting the need for very conservative terrain choices right now.

Most recent avalanches occurred on north and east facing slopes at treeline and above. Avalanches have been mostly failing on the facets below the storm snow, while some occurred on the buried crust 50-100 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

30-60 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by strong and variable winds at upper elevations. The wind-affected snow sits over facets, crust, and surface hoar in sheltered terrain. Reports show this is not bonding well, producing ongoing reactivity including remote avalanches.

A thick crust with weak facets on top is buried 50-100 cm deep. This layer has been problematic, producing step-down avalanches.

Below, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Lower temperatures given are expected in the north of this region.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow. 60-90 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 to -16 °C.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Flurries taper early in the morning. 20-40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 to -12 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud. Possible flurries 30-50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 to -10 °C.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. Possible flurries 20-30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 to -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.

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.