Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 26th, 2019 4:39PM

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

cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

Variable snowfall from Tuesday's storm set up an equally variable wind slab problem over the region. Expect new snow to shed easily from steeper slopes when it gets its first shot of warmth and sunshine on Wednesday.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing a variable 5-15 cm of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds shifting to northeast.Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5 with freezing levels to 1700 metres.Thursday: Sunny. Light north winds. Alpine high temperatures around -1 with freezing levels to 1900 metres.Friday: Sunny. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels to 2000 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region, but neighbouring regions have shown some skier triggered small wind slabs composed of new snow at ridgetop as well as continued small natural loose wet avalanches at low elevations where the snowpack remains isothermal (slushy).Looking forward, new wind slabs should be the primary avalanche problem, but one that may become touchier with warming and possible sun exposure on Wednesday. The same sun and warming will reinvigorate loose wet avalanche problems over the coming days, with new snow being the first to shed from steeper slopes as warming takes effect.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow is expected to have accumulated above a surface of melt-freeze crust in most areas above 1500 metres, with the exception of limited north aspects above 2000 metres, where it may have landed on the last dry snow that remained after last week's warm up. Below about 1500 metres new snow has buried variably isothermal (slushy) and crusty surfaces. Precipitation as rain has continued to saturate the snowpack that is for the most part isothermal and disappearing rapidly below about 1100 metres.The remainder of the snowpack is generally consolidated and strong. Exceptions may exist on northerly aspects above 2000 m, where a gradually strengthening layer of faceted grains buried 30 to 60 cm deep may still be preserved below an overlying slab of old and hard wind-affected snow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow and south winds are likely to have formed new wind slabs at higher elevations during the storm. This problem increases with elevation and is variable throughout the region with areas of locally enhanced new snow accumulation.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Be careful around wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

Rising freezing levels and decreasing cloud cover will signal a return to active loose wet avalanche conditions on Wednesday. New snow from Tuesday's storm is expected to shed easily as warmth increases, especially on steep, sun-exposed slopes.

Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.Avoid exposure to terrain traps, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.This problem may affect shaded aspects where air temperatures exceed 0 degrees.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2019 2:00PM