Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Mar 27 – 28, 2013Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Danger will increase in the afternoon on sun exposed slopes due to intense radiation.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–7
    Cornices weaken with daytime warming.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–6
    Large loads like cornice falls, or lighter loads in thin snowpack areas may trigger the deeply buried March 10th surface hoar layer.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Expect loose sluffs to run in the heat of the day when the sun is strong.

Avalanche Summary

Natural wet-loose avalanches up to Size 2 continue to be reported from throughout the region. This avalanche activity as well as natural cornice failure is expected to continue with warm and sunny weather throughout the forecast period.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Expect clear skies with mostly calm winds and alpine temperatures reaching -1. Freezing levels could climb to 1900m.Friday & Saturday: The pattern persists, with mostly clear skies, light southerly winds, no precipitation and rising freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

Clear, warm days and cold nights have brought the daily melt freeze cycle to the surface snow on sunny aspects and at lower elevations (below 1800m). Surface hoar is growing on high shaded terrain and the cold temperatures have broken down the windslabs in lee features in the alpine. Cornices are huge!The weak layer of buried surface hoar from March 10th is buried more than 100cm in most places, and is giving variable results in snow profile tests. Although unlikely to trigger, this deep persistent weakness remains a concern because of the potential for very large avalanches particularly with heavy triggers such as cornice falls or lighter triggers in thin snowpack areas.

Regions covered