Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Blue River, Cariboos, Clearwater, Clemina, McBride, North Monashee, Premier, Quesnel, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl.
Wind slabs are the main concern. Take note of the wind direction and anticipate slopes where wind slabs may exist.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No significant avalanches were reported in the past couple days.
Snowpack Summary
Roughly 5 to 15 cm of new snow accumulating over the past 3 days is being redistributed by moderate northeast winds. These new wind slabs sit over a crust on solar aspects and all aspects below 1500 m. On high north-facing terrain, these wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.
The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of strengthening but this layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly clear. Light northeast wind. High of -4 °C at treeline.
Tuesday
Mainly sunny. Light northeast wind. High of -2 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1500m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. High of -3 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1500m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate northwest wind. High of -1 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1700m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Newly formed thin wind slabs may be found near ridge crests on westerly aspects.
Aspects: South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
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, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2.5 - 4