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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 17th, 2013–Apr 18th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Cariboos.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Two approaching frontal systems will bring warm, wet and windy weather through the forecast period. Thursday: Overcast. Light-moderate precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds light-moderate from the NW. Freezing levels rising to 1800 m. Friday: Overcast. Moderate precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds moderate from the West. Freezing levels 1700 m. Saturday: Overcast. Light precipitation amounts. Ridgetop winds moderate to strong from the NW. Freezing levels falling to valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a cornice fall  triggered a size 2 avalanche in steep terrain burying old skier tracks. This occurred from a NE aspect at 2500 m.

Snowpack Summary

New snow and wind may build new wind slabs, burying older wind slab problems found at treeline and above.  Cornices are very large and remain a concern. In some locations a surface hoar interface exists buried within the upper metre of the snowpack. This is mostly found on northerly aspects at upper elevations.  It may be slowly gaining some strength, but I’d remain suspicious of these slopes.  On other aspects, recent storm snow overlies a crust. This crust interface has recently become reactive in regions further south and may become reactive in your area with additional load.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.