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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 3rd, 2024–Feb 4th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Wind slabs likely remain triggerable in the alpine.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A very large natural avalanche cycle, size 2.5-3.5 was observed over the week, with the most recent occurrence near Ningunsaw on Friday. A combination of wind slabs and persistent slabs failing on buried weak layers, most were triggered in alpine start zones, entrained wet snow and ran far, many to valley bottom.

By Friday, most avalanche activity was trending smaller; size 1 rider-triggered wind slabs on north to east aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

A moist upper snowpack up to 1800 m is refreezing into a crust. In the alpine, overlying dry wind slabs may slow the refreeze.

Various layers formed in January are now buried 50-100 cm deep. Up to 1600 m this presents as a thick crust, and at higher elevations, facets, sometimes in combination with surface hoar. Large avalanches ran on these layers during the height of the recent warm, wet storm. It is expected that they will strengthen as temperatures drop.

Below treeline, the previously rain-soaked snowpack is starting to refreeze from the top down. It diminishes rapidly to dirt below 500 m.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Mostly cloudy with a trace of snow. West ridgetop wind 40 km/h. Treeline temperature around -12°C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. West ridgetop wind tapering to <20 km/h and switching east. Treeline temperature around -9 °C.

Monday

Sunny. East ridgetop wind 20-30 km/h. Treeline temperature around -10 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny. Northeast ridgetop wind <20 km/h. Treeline temperature around -11 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

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.