Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 3rd, 2014 9:02AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

Obvious signs of avalanche danger may be decreasing, but the snowpack remains capable of producing surprisingly large avalanches.

Summary

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Cold . Light flurries at most. Light winds. Friday: Light snow. Winds increasing to moderate SW. Staying cool. Saturday: Light snow. Ridgetop winds increasing to strong SW. Freezing level rising to around 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

We haven't had any new reports of avalanche activity. This may be due to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. If you have any observations, please send them to forecaster@avalanche.ca.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 100cm of recent storm snow sits on weak crystals which formed throughout early and mid-November. These weak crystals include facets on a hard rain crust, and surface hoar (which may also sit on a crust on steep southerly slopes). Snowpack data from the Cariboo region is very limited at the moment, but I expect these layers are reacting similarly to the North Selkirk/Monashees because the formation conditions were generally the same. Recent snowpack tests suggest these layers can still be human triggered, and if triggered, are capable of producing wide propagations and large avalanches. Recent variable winds may have redistributed surface snow creating dense wind slabs in exposed terrain.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Up to 100cm of recent snow overlies weak crystals which are most reactive at higher elevations. Triggering may have become less likely; however, avalanches on this layer would be large and destructive.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Dec 4th, 2014 2:00PM