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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 17th, 2023–Feb 18th, 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, human triggered possible.
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, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Carefully assess for wind slab as you move through terrain. Be especially cautious in shallow snowpack areas where triggering a deep persistent slab remains possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

One natural size two deep persistent slab was reported on Thursday in the northern part of the region. It was on a northeast aspect in the alpine. Deep persistent slab avalanches like this one continue to be reported atleast once a week in shallow snowpack areas.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35cm of snow has fallen with moderate to strong southerly winds. This most recent snow has buried a variety of surfaces including small surface hoar and old wind effected surfaces. windward slopes are generally scoured or pressed with wind slab found on north and east aspects.

Several layers of facets, crusts or surface hoar can be found in the top 1.5 meters of the snowpack.

In shallow snowpack areas layers of facets from November and December are near the bottom of the snowpack and have likely been responsible for some large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong northwest winds and a low of -5 at 1500m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong northwest winds and a high of -2 at 1500m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow expected. Strong westerly winds and a high of -2 at 1500m.

Monday

Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light north wind and a high of -5 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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.