Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 13th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
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Avalanche Canada
Southern sections have received the most snow recently and that's where the main avalanche concerns are found. Higher elevations, especially shady or north facing terrain, is where you're most likely to encounter wind slabs.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The reports we received on Wednesday indicate a widespread wind slab avalanche cycle up to size 3 in the Cariboo Mtns. Additionally small loose dry avalanches at high elevations and loose wet slides on all aspects and elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Storms have continued to bring snow, mainly in the Cariboos, and primarily at alpine elevations. On north aspects above 1600 m, this 20-50 cm of predominantly wind-affected, settling snow overlies old, faceted grains, now around 30-70 cm deep.
On solar aspects and even some north aspects to mountaintop (e.g. west side of the Cariboos like Barkerville ) either the recent snow overlies widespread melt-freeze crust or this crust is at the surface.
The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong. A weak layer of facets at the base of the snowpack remains a concern, primarily at alpine elevations with variable snowpack depths.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Late day convective flurries ending in the evening. Alpine low temperatures near -12 C. Light southwest wind.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Dry. Light southwest winds. Treeline high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels to 1500 m.
Saturday
Increasingly cloudy with isolated flurries. WInd increasing to moderate south or southwest. Treeline high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels to 1700 m.
Sunday
Warming temperatures with single digit above zero at treeline. Continued moderate southerly wind. Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
- Watch for avalanche hazard to increase throughout the day.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Problems
Wind Slabs
High and dry alpine north aspects likely still hold pockets of wind slab that haven't been capped by crust and may still react to a human trigger. Watch for these wind slab pockets in steep north and east-facing, leeward slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth.
Thinner snowpack areas may be more suspectable to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 14th, 2023 4:00PM
