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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2024–Jan 18th, 2024

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, Howson, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Wind slab avalanches are happening in this region. Avoid wind loaded terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday we received multiple reports of wind slab avalanches up to size 2. The Avalanche Canada field team even reported one size 2 wind slab avalanche on Wednesday near Kitwanga

Snowpack Summary

The outflow winds from the north east continue to redistribute and build new windslabs. Under this old wind slabs can be found on all aspects in exposed terrain from previous variable winds. These wind slabs overlie a poorly bonded facetted layer

In sheltered areas, up to 35 cm of low density snow sits on a decomposing rain crust up to 1650 m.

Two surface hoar layers can be found buried between 50 and 90 cm deep and have become unlikely to trigger.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear overnight with no snow expected, east alpine winds up to 40 km/hr, treeline temperature -18 °C .

Thursday

Partly cloudy, increasing cloud overnight, no snow expected, south east alpine winds up to 35 km/hr, treeline temp -20 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy and increasing in the afternoon/ evening, snowfall amounts up to 10 cm through the day increasing overnight, south east wind 20-30 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, snowfall up to 5 cm expected through the day, south west alpine winds up to 20 km/hr, treeline temperatures -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

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.