Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 22nd, 2014 7:14AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

It's easy to trigger avalanches right now in some locations. Conditions are expected to deteriorate further before Christmas. Play safe.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Expect moderate snowfall on Tuesday (5-20cm, mostly late in the day) with strong south-westerly winds and freezing level around 500m. A cooler northwest flow may bring light snow or flurries on Wednesday and Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

Several storm slabs were triggered naturally on Sunday and a helicopter remotely triggered a size 2 slab at treeline in the south of the region.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow has built up above variable old surfaces including large fragile surface hoar crystals, a crust and/or facets. This layer has the potential for remote triggering and wide propagations. Winds may have built wind slabs and cornices on lee slopes. A thick rain crust with facets from early November is buried over 1 m down and may still be reactive in isolated areas. Recent storm snow amounts are quite variable across the region. If you're in the south, have look at the North Columbia bulletin too.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Slab avalanches may fail easily with the weight of a person, or even from a distance. A slab is developing over a touchy layer of buried surface hoar crystals.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features by sticking to ridges and ribs.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

There is still the potential to trigger a deeply buried weak layer, resulting in a surprisingly large avalanche.

Avoid common trigger zones including thin snowpack areas, near rocky outcrops, and steep alpine slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 23rd, 2014 2:00PM