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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2023–Jan 2nd, 2023

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

Regions

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

Use extra caution at treeline where persistent weak layers have been most reactive. Be aware that wind slabs could step down to these layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days we received several reports of previous natural avalanches up to size 2.5. These avalanches released in the facet layer produced during the recent period of arctic air. These avalanches have occurred at all elevations and on a variety of aspects.

Check out this MIN report from our field team for some photos and a good summary of this type of activity.

If you are headed out into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Around 30 to 40cm of recent snow has been redistributed into wind slab in exposed terrain at treeline and above. In non-wind effected terrain this recent snow sits on a layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air. Below treeline a thin crust can likely be found at or near the surface.

A surface hoar and facet layer from early December, while spotty, can still be found down around 60cm.

Snowpack depths are highly variable throughout the region.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light southerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 40km/h. A low of -6 at 1500m. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Monday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, 1-5 cm. Ridgetop winds southerly 30 to 50 km/h. A high of -4 at 1500m. Freezing levels 400m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 km/h. A high of -5 at 1500m. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop winds southerly 20 km/h. A high of -6 at 1500m. Freezing levels valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid making assumptions about this layer based on the presence of aggressive tracks on adjacent slopes
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

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.