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Avalanche Forecast

Jan 20th, 2024–Jan 21st, 2024
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be below threshold
Below Treeline
Below Threshold
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Regions: Cariboos, Kakwa, McBride, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Quesnel, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl.

New snow may be hiding buried wind slabs in the alpine and treeline.

Be cautious in areas that look wind loaded, pillowed, or extra thick.

Confidence

No Rating

Avalanche Summary

A few small (size 1 to 1.5), isolated wind slab avalanches were observed in alpine terrain across the region on Wednesday and Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of new snow is now resting on a previous 20 cm that was redistributed by strong northeast wind. This upper 30 cm of recent snow may bond poorly to underlying layers of surface hoar, faceted snow, and wind-pressed snow.

A prominent crust is found 30 to 50 cm deep. It extends up to 1900 m in the Cariboos and up to 1400 m around Pine Pass. At this point, the only potential concern with this layer is for areas east of Quesnel and Williams Lake, where a layer of small surface hoar has been observed near the crust.

The midpack is reportedly strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm snow, southwest alpine wind 20-30 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 30-40 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C, except 0 °C around Wells/ Barkerville with an AFL to 1500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20-50 km/h, treeline temperature -12 °C, except 0 °C around Wells/ Barkerville with an AFL to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds formed slabs at and below ridgetops in atypical areas. These slabs could be more reactive on slopes where they overlie a weak layer of surface hoar and/or a crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2