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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2025–Jan 2nd, 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 unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

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

There is potential for large avalanches to be triggered, particularly in wind-loaded areas near ridgetops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Our field team observed a few small wind slabs in the Sinclair area on Wednesday, and several large slab avalanches up to size 2 in the Telkwas on Monday. These all occurred mostly on wind-loaded leeward slopes, with the larger ones failing on the December crust (for more details click the photos below).

Looking forward, we expect both wind slabs and persistent slabs to remain a problem over the coming days.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 10 cm of soft snow blankets harder wind-affected surfaces in the alpine and at treeline. Recent and forecast southeast winds are expected to blow any available soft snow into fresh wind slabs on leeward north through westerly slopes.

Deeper pockets of soft snow should still be able to be found in sheltered 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 as it continues to be buried even deeper.

The remainder of the snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Clear. 30 km/ east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Thursday

Clear, with increasing cloud in the afternoon. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Inversion developing; treeline temperature -16 °C.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 25 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Inversion; treeline temperature -15 °C, alpine -10 °C.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Inversion; treeline temperature -15 °C, alpine -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.

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.