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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2023–Mar 4th, 2023

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.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Stewart, Howson, Ningunsaw.

Be cautious when entering areas where the surface snow is heavy and dense. Slab thickness and density will increase with warm temperatures and easterly winds, especially at lower elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent reports of natural avalanches size 2-3 south of the Skeena as well as natural and skier triggered storm slabs and loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain. A large natural windslab cycle to size 3.5 was reported near Stewart, with debris running far and fast.

Snowpack Summary

40-60 cm of new snow has been loaded into leeward terrain features at wind-exposed elevations, while remaining soft and fluffy in sheltered areas.

A layer of small surface hoar or facets is now buried over 80 cm deep. A facet/crust layer formed in late January exists around 150 cm deep. Large avalanches were suspected to have run on this layer over a week ago.

The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated but as you move further inland where the snowpack is thinner, basal instabilities linger.

The total height of snow in the alpine varies between 450 cm near the coast and 250 cm further inland.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Scattered flurries. Light southerly wind. Alpine low -8 ºC.

Saturday

Clear in the morning becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Possible flurries. Winds east up to 30 km/h except 15 km/h above 2000m. Freezing level up to 900 m, except -12 ºC in the alpine.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate easterly wind at valley bottom, except light westerly in the alpine. Alpine high -12 ºC.

Monday

Mostly sunny. Southerly winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Alpine high -13 ºC.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
  • Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.