Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Cariboos.
Clear and cold conditions will make for great riding this week. Watch for pockets of wind slab at ridge crest, and for loose snow avalanches in sheltered, steep terrain.
Confidence
High - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast
Weather Forecast
Arctic air continues to maintain cold and clear conditions across the Cariboos until Wednesday night.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Moderate northerly winds. Overnight lows of -35.
MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, with moderate westerly winds. A chance of flurries. Alpine high of -20.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with moderate northerlies. A chance of flurries. Alpine high of -20.
WEDNESDAY: Light flurries over the day with increasing westerly winds. Alpine high of -15.Â
Avalanche Summary
Few avalanches observations have been reported throughout the most recent storm and limited industry operators over the holiday season.
A natural avalanche cycle is expected to have occurred throughout the heavy snowfall received on Wednesday. Recent winds from all directions are also expected to have created a wind slab problem on many aspects, sensitive to human triggering.Â
If head into the mountains, please submit your findings and photos through a Mountain Information Network report.
Snowpack Summary
25-40cm of very light new snow has accumulated this week. Recent winds from all directions have created deeper deposits in wind loaded features at treeline and above. On the western side of the Cariboos, a thin crust sits 5cm deep in the snow snow. This will limit the extent of wind transport possible, but may also create reactivity as winds build slabs above this layer.Â
The crust formed by the early December rain event sits 60-100cm deep and is found up to 1800m in the southern Cariboos. In most terrain the snow above is well bonded to the crust. In areas where the crust is buried deeper than one meter, it has begun to decompose and show limited reactivity. The most recent reactivity was located in treeline terrain west of Blue River, use extra caution around large, unsupported slopes at treeline in this area.
Terrain and Travel
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Expect deeper deposits and reactivity as you move into wind effected terrain. Avoid ridge crests and cross loaded features.
Winds have redistributed snow from the north and south facing slopes, expect loading on all aspects as reverse loading may occur.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5