Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 2012 9:26AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

Summary

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Snow is expected to continue during the day in the Cariboo, and accumulate 10 cm by Tuesday morning. Tuesday should be mostly dry with clear skies by the afternoon. The freezing level should be at valley bottom for Tuesday and Wednesday, and rising slightly to about 700 metres on Thursday. Wednesday should be mostly clear and a bit warmer than Tuesday, probably -10.0 C in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity reported due to limited visibility and travel conditions.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm has accumulated about 20-30 cm of storm snow. Very strong southwest winds have transported the storm snow into windslabs in the alpine and at treeline. There is a new rain crust below 1500 metres and an old rain crust that is buried down about a metre below the 1600 metre elevation. The mid-pack is reported to be strong, and I have not heard anyone talk about early season layers deep in the snowpack. That being said, there is still a lot of variation due to the strong winds that have accompanied most storms this winter in the region. I would continue to be suspect of thin snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The recent storm snow has been transported into windslabs by strong southwest winds. These windslabs are expected to take a couple of days to strengthen.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Cornices

Warm temperatures and strong winds have caused rapid cornice growth which may not be well supported. Try to reduce your exposure beneath these large unstable masses of heavy snow.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2012 8:00AM