Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Cariboos.
Flurries and moderate west winds may form small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations later in the day.
Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / Light northwest winds / Low of -12 / Freezing level surface.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with flurries; 3-10 cm, and another 3-10 cm overnight / Moderate west wind / High of -4 / Freezing level rising to 1100 m.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-5 cm / Moderate west wind / High of -2 / Freezing level 1300 m.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-5 cm / Light west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 1400 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, several large cornice failures triggered slab avalanches on the slopes below up to size 2.5.
A skier triggered size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a east aspect below a treeline ridgetop on Monday. The wind slab was sitting on a layer of recently buried surface hoar which resulted in wide propagation of the slab.
Riders may get surprised by widely propagating wind slabs that are sitting on crusts and/or surface hoar.
Snowpack Summary
Recent west/northwest winds have formed wind slabs on lee features in the alpine. Below the recent snow, there may be a layer of small surface hoar that is likely most pronounced in shady or sheltered locations. Riders may be surprised by widely propagating wind slabs on steep and/or convex slopes where this surface hoar is present.
Sun crust on southerly aspects and temperature crust on all aspects below 1600 m.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with prominent crust layers 50 to 100 cm deep. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and moderate west winds may form small wind slabs on lee features in the alpine.
Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5