Avalanche Forecast
Northwest Inland
New snow and wind will continue to build wind slabs in the alpine and tree line elevations. Triggering persistent slabs from thin snowpack areas remains a concern in the north of the region.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be careful with wind loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Weak layers buried in the snowpack have produced recent avalanches particularly on unsupported features.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid shallow or thick to thin snowpack areas where triggering a deeper layer is more likely.
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking at lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Friday there was a report of a helicopter remotely triggering a Size 2.5 wind slab from above the slope on a west aspect at 1500 m north of Kispiox. Thursday there was a report of skiers, north of Kispiox, remotely triggering a Size 2-2.5 avalanche from a safe location on a ridge that released on the adjacent slope on a northwest aspect at 1650 m. A weak layer buried late-December was the suspected failure plane.
Snowpack Summary
Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought 20-60 cm of new snow across the region. This new snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations.
Below, there are two separate crust and/or surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December. They are 50-80 cm below the surface. In the past week these deeper layers have produced hard but sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm / moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -6
TUESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation up to 5 cm / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -7
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -8
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Wind slabs can be found on leeward aspects in the alpine as well as wind-exposed areas at treeline. These slabs overlie a thin crust/ surface hoar layer and have been reactive to light triggers especially in steep or convex terrain near ridge crests.