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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 4th, 2024–Dec 5th, 2024

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

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Boundary, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart.

Ongoing precipitation, wind, and warming will continue to create dangerous avalanche conditions.

Stick to low-angle terrain and avoid overhead hazard.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle was reported throughout the region on Tuesday. Storm slab and wet slab avalanches were observed at all elevations to size 2.

Please consider submitting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Rain and warm temperatures have created a moist snow surface at all elevations except in the high alpine. Strong winds will have created heavily wind-affected surfaces and stiff wind slabs where dry snow remains.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong, with various hard layers and crusts.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 to 15 mm of precipitation. 30 to 50 km/h southest ridge top wind. Freezing level 2500 m dropping to 1900 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with up to 2 to 10 mm of precipitation. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1700 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 mm of precipitation. 40 to 90 km/h southwest ridge top wind. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 3 to 10 mm of precipitation. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridge top wind. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.