Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 25th, 2025–Jan 26th, 2025

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.

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, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Avalanche danger may rise with warm temperatures. It's uncertain if buried weak layers will become reactive.

Choosing low-angle slopes is a good way to gather info and increase confidence.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Large avalanches failing on the early December weak layers continue to be reported.

On Friday, east of Hazelton a snowcat remotely triggered a large (size 2) persistent slab avalanche.
On Thursday, a few large (size 2-2.5) persistent slab avalanches failed on north and east aspects in the alpine.

Additionally, several natural and rider-triggered wind slabs were reported on Thursday. They were mostly small, but several were large.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 40 cm of soft snow has been redistributed by southwest wind. Scouring exposed areas and loading lee features. In sheltered areas this snow may sit on a layer of weak surface hoar crystals.

Around 100 to 200 cm deep are buried weak layers from December. Consisting of crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar. These layers continue to produce large avalanches.

The lower snowpack is strong with no layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C with a temperature inversion.

Sunday

A mix of sun and clouds. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C with a temperature inversion.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.

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.

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.