Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Boundary, East Stikine, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Stewart, West Stikine.
Natural persistent slab avalanche activity has tapered, however a cautious approach is warranted as there is still potential for human triggered persistent slabs.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports from the past few days indicate wind slab and persistent slab avalanche activity to size 1.5 and 2 in the alpine. These were reported as natural and skier triggered, were 20-40 cm deep and were all suspected of running on surface hoar crystals buried early March. A few of these were remotely triggered (from a distance).
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of recent snow is being redistributed by primarily southerly winds. This new snow fell on a widespread layer of large surface hoar crystals, which sits on a crust on solar aspects and at low elevations. This layer has been reactive in recent days where a slab has consolidated above.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer produced large natural and human-triggered avalanches last week.
The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated with no concerns at this time.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h east and northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 15 to 25 km/h south and southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to buried surface hoar.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent new snow has been redistributed by wind blowing from a variety of directions.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Two weak layers of facets and/or surface hoar that were buried mid February and early March have been recently reactive.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3