Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 28th, 2015 8:00AM

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

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

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Cariboos.

Recent winds have been variable across the region. Pay extra attention in areas showing signs of wind effect e.g. cornices, 'fat' looking slopes, or hollow sounds.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

A cool, dry spell is starting. Expect light northerly winds, a mix of sun and cloud and cool temperatures for the foreseeable future.For more details check out http://www.avalanche.ca/weather.

Avalanche Summary

Apart from loose sluff and whumpfing, no avalanches have been reported recently.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs may be found on any recently wind-affected terrain, especially at alpine and treeline elevations. Whumpfing was observed on Cariboo Mountain yesterday. A couple of storm snow interfaces were also reactive to tests in the upper snowpack. See the great MIN post (blue dot on the map) for more detail. In some sheltered areas, 10-20 cm light dry snow has buried large surface hoar crystals. 20-30 cm settled, dried-out powder lies below this. The mid- and lower snowpack are reportedly well settled. The early December weak layer (about a metre down) is now hard to find and unlikely to be triggered, except with a very heavy trigger. At the base of the snowpack, on high north aspects, basal facets overlie glacial ice.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Recent winds have shifted snow into slabs behind ridges and ribs. These could be triggered by the weight of a person.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain. >Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow. >

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 29th, 2015 2:00PM

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