Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2016 8:55AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

triley, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

If you have been out in the mountains, please consider reporting your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Freezing level dropping to valley bottoms overnight. Variable cloud cover across the region, more likely to be clear in the north and east overnight. Overcast with light precipitation on Tuesday combined with light winds in the morning and increasing to moderate southwest in the afternoon. Chance of broken or scattered cloud on Wednesday with a good overnight freeze. The next pulse of stormy weather moving into the region on Wednesday night. Warm, wet, and windy on Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

A few natural avalanches size 2.5 were reported on Sunday. Natural avalanches continued to release down 40-60 cm on Friday up to size 2.5, and on Saturday up to size 3.0. Reports from Thursday that several natural size 2.0 slab avalanches and one size 3.0 storm slab were suspected to have released on the late February surface hoar layer. There was also a report of a size 3.0 avalanche remotely triggered by a skier that was 20 metres away.

Snowpack Summary

Moist snow below 1600 metres should re-freeze overnight developing a crust on all aspects. The recent storm slab is 50-80cm thick and bonding poorly to a crust on previously sun-exposed slopes and surface hoar (February 27th or late February) on shady and sheltered slopes. Thicker and touchier wind slabs are lurking throughout exposed terrain at and above treeline. A couple of sun crusts might exist in the upper 50-70cm on southerly aspects.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs may continue to be triggered by light additional loads at treeline and in the alpine.

The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

The recent storm snow may be sitting on a weak layer of buried surface hoar that is down 50-80 cm.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2016 2:00PM