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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 15th, 2025–Jan 16th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kitimat, Nass, Rupert, Seven Sisters, Shames, Howson, Microwave-Sinclair.

Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. New snow and strong winds are driving the avalanche danger.

Deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported. Observations seemed limited due to thick clouds at upper elevations.

Natural avalanche activity is expected on Thursday during the storm and avalanche terrain should be avoided.

Snowpack Summary

Another 20 to 35 cm of snow is forecast by Thursday afternoon. Strong southwest wind has created widespread wind effect, with deeper deposits of snow on leeward slopes. At lower elevations, the new snow may have a poor bond to the crust found up to 1300 m.

Down 50 to 100 cm a layer of surface hoar, facets, or a thin crust exists.

A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets overlying a crust is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Snow 15 to 25 cm. 60 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Thursday

Snow 5 to 10 cm. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods. 10 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers and result in very large avalanches.
  • Keep your guard up at all elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive and could extend into openings below treeline.

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.

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.