Avalanche forecast

Northwest Inland

Jan 1 – 2, 2022Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow for a new year! 

Hazard will increase throughout the day as wind and snow form fresh, reactive slabs. 

Stick to low angled, sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind loading and overhead hazard and enjoy the first powder turns of 2022. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    A significant storm will bring upwards of 30 cm of new snow to areas west of Smithers by the end of the day, with closer to 10-20 cm the east. The accompanying strong to extreme winds will build wind slabs in wind exposed areas in the alpine and treeline. In areas that receive higher snowfall amounts, a touchy storm slab or loose dry problem will run easily on the weak bed surface of old hard wind slabs and near surface faceting. 

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

New Year, New Snow!

Friday Overnight: Cloudy with flurries beginning in the late evening, 5-15 cm of accumulation by the morning. Winds shifting to the southwest and strengthening to strong to extreme. Alpine temperatures rising to -15 C.

Saturday: A stormy day. Moderate to heavy precipitation throughout the day, 5-15cm of new snow accumulation accompanied by strong to extreme winds from the southwest, upwards of 100km/h. Alpine temperatures rising throughout the day to -10 C. Continued snowfall overnight, 5-10 cm of accumulation, winds easing to moderate to strong from the southwest.

Sunday: Continued snowfall with another 5-10 cm of accumulation. Strong southwest winds will shift southeast in the afternoon. Alpine temperatures around -15 C. Overnight, strong southeast winds will continue at all elevations. 

Monday: Partially cloudy with lingering flurries, strong southeast winds at all elevations. Alpine temperatures dropping back to the -20s at Arctic Air repopulates the region. 

Avalanche Summary

A small (size 1) wind slab avalanche was easily triggered by a snowmobile Wednesday on a convex roll at treeline. 

Several natural wind slabs (size 1-2) avalanches were reported from open slopes at treeline around Telkwa and Hudson Bay on Thursday. 

If you are out in the mountains, let us know what you see by filling out a Mountain Information Network report!

Snowpack Summary

Overnight, we received 5-15 cm of new snow. Snowfall will continue throughout the day with another 10-20 cm of accumulation. West of Smithers, areas with higher snow accumulation may see a reactive storm slab problem forming, with deeper deposits in wind loaded areas. In more eastern areas where less snow is accumulating, strong to extreme winds will be redistributing this snow into wind slabs, potentially quite low down in lee areas, or sublimating the new snow off ridge-crests. 

In open areas, this new snow is sitting on a heavily wind effected surface, comprised of old harder wind slabs, sastrugi, and areas stripped back to the ground or early season crusts. In sheltered areas, the new snow overlies up to 30 cm of low density, faceted snow from two weeks of prolonged cold temperatures. 

The mid pack is well settled. An early season crust exists near the base of the snowpack. Faceting has been observed around this crust, with no recent avalanche or snowpack test reactivity. Snowpack depth at treeline ranges from 150-230 cm, with highest values in the western part of the forecast region. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
  • Sheltered slopes at lower elevations will offer the best riding.

Regions covered