Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2019 3:58PM

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

dboucher, Avalanche Canada

Cariboos.

Warmer temperatures and rising freezing levels starting late Friday will make a more cohesive, easier-to-trigger slab above the weak interface. Pay attention to rapid change to the snow surface with temperature warming and direct solar radiation.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate west winds, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level at valley bottom.FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with flurries, snow accumulation up to 8 cm, moderate to strong west winds, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level at 1500 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, strong winds from west, alpine temperature +1 C,Â freezing level rising up to 1900-2100 m with a weak temperature inversion.SUNDAY: A mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries, moderate to strong winds northwest winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level at 1300 m.

Avalanche Summary

A few natural wind slabs, storm slabs and dry loose avalanches up to size 2.5 have been reported Wednesday on steep slopes of all aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of snow sits above a layer of large surface hoar crystals and sun crust. In areas that have had wind effect the recent snow has been settling into a thin but reactive slab above this weak layer, with enhanced reactivity noted at elevations between 1500-1800 metres. In sheltered areas the snow is faceting and lacks cohesion above this layer which is only reactive as dry loose sluffing. Forecasted warmer temperatures starting late Friday will change this and promote increased cohesion in the upper snowpack.Moderate to strong winds associated with the new snow formed reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes at upper elevations. The middle and lower portions of the snowpack are generally well-settled and strong.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

15-30 cm of snow sits above a weak interface that comprises of surface hoar and sun crust. Where the snow has formed a cohesive slab, such as in windy areas, it is reactive to human triggering, especially between 1500m-1800m.

Be cautious around open terrain features, such as cutblocks, gullies, and cutbanks.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, cracking and recent avalanches.Expect to find deeper pockets of wind loaded snow in wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2019 2:00PM