Avalanche forecast

Kitimat

Jan 29 – 30, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

A deeply buried weak layer may cause large avalanches to run to the valley bottom.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3

    A buried weak layer from early December is expected to produce avalanches under the weight of the new snow.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Storm slabs are expected to be easy to trigger. If triggered, they may step down to the persistent problem.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, numerous small wet loose avalanches occurred during warm temperatures and sunshine. A few of them triggered wind slabs.

Snowpack Summary

Heavy snowfall is expected to drop 20 to 60 cm by the end of the day Wednesday. This snow falls on:

  • Large surface hoar crystals in sheltered spots at treeline and below.

  • Likely a crust on solar slopes.

  • Old wind affected snow.

A layer of surface hoar from early January is buried 20 to 40 cm deep. It's uncertain whether this layer will persist.

100 to 200 cm deep in the snowpack are layers of crust, facets, and possibly surface hoar that were buried in December.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and unconcerning.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with 15 to 50 cm of snow. 50 to 90 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with 1 to 2 cm of snow. 15 km/h west then east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.
  • As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.

Regions covered