Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Apr 8 – 9, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Spring conditions means you should anticipate a daily cycle of loose snow avalanches on south-facing slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Large cornices exist in alpine terrain and they may pop off with warmer temperatures and intense solar radiation. A failure could be destructive by itself, and could also trigger an avalanche on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Loose wet avalanches are likely on sun exposed slopes during the day.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

This region should remain dry from Monday through Wednesday. Freezing levels will be around 1700 m on Monday, with sunshine and increasing cloud in the afternoon. On Tuesday, freezing levels will go to around 2300 m and on Wednesday as high as 2500 m. Winds are expected to be light southeasterly for Monday, increasing to moderate southerly on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

Two remote-triggered avalanches were reported from this region on Friday. One was a size 2.5 on an east aspect near a ridgeline that was triggered close to the slope it ran on. The other was a size 2 on a south aspect that was triggered from 50 m away. Both ran on the crust that formed at the end of March. A cornice release was also reported from this region on a northeast aspect, which resulted in a size 2 slab on the slope below. No avalanches were reported on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Over the past week up to 60 cm of recent storm snow has fallen. Southeasterly through northeasterly winds have promoted wind slab formation as well as cornice development at upper elevations. Although generally settling and bonding well, instabilities may still be found in the recent storm snow and lower down on a crust that formed near the end of March. Daytime warming and sun-exposure will cause surface snow to lose cohesion and cornices to weaken. There is also the possibility for wet slabs to release on steep solar aspects during prolonged periods of warming.

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