Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Inland
Cold conditions persist. If you get out in the mountains this week please share your photos and observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN)!
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
Avalanche Summary
A few small natural wind slabs were reported in steep south facing terrain west of Smithers on the weekend. Wind slabs showed some reactivity to human triggers last week, but cold temperatures have generally made them difficult to trigger.
Snowpack Summary
Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region, with the most dramatic winds associated with outflow conditions in the western parts of the region near coastal inlets. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface, but in most places insufficient snow has fallen for it to be reactive. The layer comprises of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered locations.
The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, light winds, treeline temperatures around -18 C.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light winds, treeline temperatures around -18 C.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light winds, treeline temperatures around -18 C.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
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Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Northwest Inland URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/northwest-inland.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Lingering winds slabs may be found on a range of aspects in alpine terrain as winds shifted over the past week.