Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

Sunday:  Mostly clear and sunny. Light northwest winds. Freezing level 1700m..Monday:  Mix of sun and cloud. Light west winds. Freezing level 2100m.Tuesday:  Cloudy with scattered flurries. Light southwesterly winds. Freezing level 1700m.

Recent reports indicate explosives triggered avalanches running to size 3.5 on northerly aspects in the alpine. A size 2.5 natural cornice triggered avalanche was also reported from a southeast aspect in the alpine.

Up to 50cm of recent storm snow accumulations from the past few days in the alpine have been redistributed by moderate west and southwest winds creating wind slabs in alpine lee features. This new snow sits on a crust formed by warm temperatures resulting from the freezing level reaching to almost 2200m early last week. Three persistent weak layers exist in the highly variable snowpack of the Cariboos:The mid-March sun crust/surface hoar layer down 50-80cm still has potential for human-triggering in isolated areas. The early-March crust/facet/surface hoar layer down around 80-120cm has become less susceptible to human triggering, but still has the capacity to produce large avalanches.The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically down 150 - 200cm. Direct triggering of this layer has become unlikely, however, cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming may wake this layer up, which would result in very large and destructive avalanches.