Avalanche Forecast

Good - -1

Thursday: Mainly dry, clearing conditions. Flurries expected in the evening. Ridgetop winds blowing 50km/hr from the north-west. Treeline temperatures near -10. Friday: Switching to a zonal westerly flow. Dry and cold. Treeline temperatures near -15. Saturday: Freezing levels may may rise to 1500m, with light to moderate snow.

On Tuesday a skier triggered an avalanche remotely 20m away. This was on a NE aspect at 2100m and was a size 2. Remotely triggered avalanches are an indicator of a very touchy snowpack. You need to be very aware and make observations while you travel in avalanche terrain at all elevations. They ran on all aspects above 1800m. Most of this avalanche activity has occurred on the early December surface hoar/facet/crust layer.

The North Columbia (Cariboos) received up to 50cm of new storm snow over the past few days. Strong southwest winds and warm temperatures have created wind slabs on North through East aspects in the alpine, treeline, and below treeline. The storm slabs are between 50-80cms and sit on the mid December surface hoar/facet/crust interface. This interface has been very active; especially to rider triggers. Some areas have a sun crust in the alpine on steep south and west aspects. There is a rain crust that is buried between 40-55cms in some areas that reaches up to about 2200 metres. The new snow load continues to build faster in the northern ranges than in the southern and eastern ranges. The depth of the new storm snow above the various old surfaces is what is driving the danger ratings at this time. The problems that exist are found in the upper meter of the snowpack. The mid-pack is reported as generally strong and well settled. Observers are still able to find the early November surface hoar layer that sits around 120-150cms down. This layer has not been reactive during the recent loading after our 2 week dry spell. It may be time to put this layer to bed. Going down deeper sits the interface between the snow that did not melt over the summer, the glacial ice, and the October rain event. At this point the interface remains dormant.