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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 19th, 2025–Feb 20th, 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 possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Northwest Coastal, Northwest Inland, Boundary, Stewart, Kispiox, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw.

Expect avalanche danger to increase through the day as a storm arrives with snow and wind.

Retreat to mellower terrain if you see rapid loading or signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported.

Operators in the area are still concerned about a weak layer of facets over a crust from early December that has produced large avalanches.

Looking forward, we expect that the incoming weather will make human triggered avalanches more likely.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find 10 to 20 cm of new snow in sheltered areas. Moderate to strong southwest winds will likely be forming deeper deposits in leeward terrain. This covers scoured terrain at treeline and above on all aspects. Where snow remained, ongoing cold temperatures have softened the previously wind affected upper snowpack in many areas.

In sheltered terrain, generally faceted snow overlies a crust and layer of surface hoar from late January, now buried 40 to 70 cm.

Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 50 to 100 cm deep.

A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December varies in depth from 100 to 300 cm. This layer remains a concern in this region.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with light snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 7 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow, much less on the inland side of the forecast area. 35 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 5 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow, possibly as much as 20 cm around Stewart. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 5 °C. Freezing level rising to 750 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 15 to 20 cm in the south half of the forecast area, 5 to 10 in the northern half. 30 to 50 km/h south or southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1250 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.

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.

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.