The storm and associated natural avalanches have tapered off to some degree, but give the snowpack some time to adjust to recent loading. Choose conservative terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate -
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with clear periods / northeast winds, 10-15 km/h / alpine low temperature near -30SUNDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / northeast winds 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -25MONDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / northeast winds 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -18TUESDAY - Mainly sunny / northwest winds, 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -13
Avalanche Summary
Field observations were limited on Friday, but it is likely that a natural avalanche cycle was occurring throughout the day. There were reports of a few human triggered avalanches to size 2 occurring at treeline and below on Friday. Some of these were remote triggered (triggered from a distance), and failed on a persistent weak layer of surface hoar that was buried in mid January.There are two great MIN reports that outline how reactive the mid January persistent weak layer was on Friday. They can be found
here and
here.Snowpack Summary
20-45 cm of snow has fallen in the Cariboos since Thursday. This new snow is sitting on wind slab, surface hoar (feathery crystals), facets (sugary snow) and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. 30-60 cm of snow now sits on a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January. This layer consists of surface hoar and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. It is most prominent at treeline and below, and was very reactive during the recent storm. It remains to be seen how this layer will behave as temperatures drop. It may still be reactive to human triggers.
kdevine,
Avalanche Canada
