Avalanche Forecast

Good

Thursday: Mainly dry under a weak ridge of high pressure. Isolated flurries are possible but accumulations should be very light. Friday: Light snowfall - 5-10cm with the greatest amounts likely in the south. Winds should be moderate from the southwest. Saturday: Flurries continue in most areas. Winds should ease to light and variable. The freezing level should remain at valley bottom for the forecast period.

It is likely that a natural avalanche cycle occurred in parts of the Cariboos on Wednesday in response to additional snowfall and strong winds. Previous reports include several natural and skier triggered avalanches up to Size 2.0 These avalanches primarily occurred in wind affected terrain in the alpine, or on steep convex shaped features below treeline.

Wind slabs continue to grow in exposed terrain in response to moderate W-SW winds. 30-60cm of storm snow has now settled into a cohesive slab and overlies the Feb. 9 weakness, which includes surface hoar and/or a crust. This surface hoar layer may be widespread in some areas, while others have reported it being confined to shady aspects at treeline and in the alpine. A melt-freeze crust has developed on solar aspects at all elevations, and on all aspects below about 1600 metres. The mid-pack is generally well settled. There is some concern that large loads like cornices may trigger the Jan. 20th facet layer. Some shallow snowpack areas may continue to have a weak layer of basal facets near the ground.