Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Cariboos, Kakwa, McBride, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Quesnel, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl.
Recent wind has created heightened avalanche conditions on steep, open slopes in both the alpine and treeline.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few small (size 1 to 1.5), isolated wind slab avalanches were observed in alpine terrain across the region on Wednesday and Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
Strong northeast wind has redistributed 20 cm of recent low-density snow. This snow may bond poorly to underlying layers of surface hoar, faceted snow, and wind-pressed snow.
A prominent crust is found 30 to 50 cm deep. It extends up to 1900 m in the Cariboos and up to 1400 m around Pine Pass. At this point, the only potential concern with this layer is for areas east of Quesnel and Williams Lake, where a layer of small surface hoar has been observed near the crust.
The midpack is reportedly strong and bonded.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-60 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 3 cm snow, south alpine wind 10-20 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 30 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C except 0 °C around Wells/ Barkerville.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
- Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent winds formed slabs at and below ridgetops in atypical areas. These slabs could be more reactive on slopes where they overlie a weak layer of surface hoar and/or a crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2