Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Blue River, Cariboos, Clearwater, Clemina, North Monashee, Premier, Quesnel, Robson.
Watch for small wind slabs building throughout the day.
Avoid slopes with dense and cohesive surface snow, such as in wind or sun-affected areas.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous reports of small (size 1-1.5) loose dry avalanches out of steep terrain have been reported over the past few days. These sluffs are common where the upper snowpack remains loose and unconsolidated.
On Sunday, skiers triggered a size 1.5 persistent slab 30 cm deep in the southwestern part of the region.
Looking forward, a stormy period is forecast over the next few days and we expect the likelihood of avalanches and danger to rise accordingly with new snow amounts.
Snowpack Summary
Around 5 cm of new snow and moderate to strong southwesterly winds are forecast. This snow will be burying a variety of surfaces including old wind-affected snow, a thin sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes and weak facets and surface hoar in wind-sheltered areas. In the southernmost parts of the region there may be up to 15 cm of snow covering these surfaces already. Various persistent weak layers formed at the end of January are buried 20 to 50 cm. These layers include crust on sun-exposed slopes, surface hoar in shaded, sheltered terrain, and weak faceted grains. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers 20 to 50 cm deep, remain a concern on slopes with denser surface snow that has formed a cohesive slab, such as in wind or sun-affected areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
New snow and moderate southwest wind may build fresh slabs on lee slopes. Watch for blowing snow and remember wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5