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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 4th, 2025–Jan 5th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Check for loaded pockets in leeward terrain. Avalanches are most likely where the wind has formed a slab over a crust or weak faceted snow.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few size 1-2 wind slab avalanches were reported last Monday-Wednesday. These occurred on wind-loaded leeward slopes, with the larger ones failing on the December crust (for more details click the photos below). We suspect recent wind has affected surfaces in open terrain at upper elevations, but have had limited field reports for this region.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind effect can be found in the alpine and open treeline areas. This includes sastrugi in some areas and hard wind slabs. Recent winds have varied in direction so wind slabs may exist on all aspects. Soft snow can still be found in sheltered lower elevation terrain, and in the trees.

A significant weak layer can be found across the region, buried 30 to 70 cm, depending on wind loading patterns. This layer is made of weak facets overlying a hard crust. We expect this layer to persist as a problem, especially as it gets buried deeper.

The remainder of the snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. 15 to 35 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.

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.