Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

SUNDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / light northeast winds / alpine low temperature near -25MONDAY - Sunny with cloudy periods / northeast winds 10-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -16TUESDAY - Mainly sunny / northeast winds 15-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -13WEDNESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / northwest winds, 15-35 km/h / alpine high temperature near -11

Widespread avalanche activity was reported on Saturday. Natural avalanches to size 3 and human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported. Many of these failed on a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January. This layer was the most reactive at treeline and below.There is a great MIN report here detailing the reactivity of the mid January layer in Allen creek on Saturday.Field observations were limited on Friday, but it is likely that a natural avalanche cycle was occurring throughout the day. There were reports of a few human triggered avalanches to size 2 occurring at treeline and below on Friday. Some of these were remote triggered (triggered from a distance), and failed on a persistent weak layer of surface hoar that was buried in mid January.There are two great MIN reports that outline how reactive the mid January persistent weak layer was on Friday. They can be found here and here.

30-50 cm of snow has fallen in the Cariboos since Thursday. This new snow is sitting on surface hoar (feathery crystals), facets (sugary snow) and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. Recent strong winds have redistributed the new snow and formed wind slabs at all elevations.40-80 cm of snow now sits on a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January. This layer consists of surface hoar and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. It is most prominent at treeline and below, and was very reactive during the recent storm. It remains to be seen how this layer will behave as temperatures drop. It may still be reactive to human triggers.