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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2024–Mar 6th, 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 Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Assess your line before committing, the upper snowpack is not well bonded to a crust underneath.

Avalanche activity may be decreasing, but human-triggered avalanches are still possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Snowpack tests conducted by our field team at Hankin on Tuesday indicated that the persistent weak layer remains concerning. Touchy fractures 45 cm below the surface.

Recent slab avalanche activity was noted around Telkwa on Monday.

Field observations have been limited, if you head out, please consider submitting a Mountain Information Network post.

Snowpack Summary

In alpine and open treeline areas expect highly variable surface conditions from exposed crust, 15 to 30 cm of wind-affected snow, or large sastrugi. (See photo below) There is significantly more snow as you travel north of Hazelton.

This sits over a variety of surfaces including facets over a crust, old hard wind slabs, or surface hoar. The surface hoar is most likely to be found in sheltered areas at treeline and below.

Another layer of weak, faceted crystals and a crust may be found buried 30 to 60 cm deep.

The lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, partly cloudy by the morning. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -15 °C, with possible temperature inversion.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy in the north half of the forecast area, mostly sunny in the south. Light southwest ridgetop wind, increasing to moderate in the northern half of the forecast area. Temperature inversion breaking down. Treeline high around -10 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 3 to 6 cm of snow expected. Moderate south or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -5 °C. Up to 5 °C colder in the north half of the forecast area.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow expected, possibly 10 to 15 cm in areas around Stewart. Moderate south or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -2 °C. Up to 5 °C colder in the north half of the forecast area.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.

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.

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.