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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2022–Feb 26th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Cariboos.

If you see any blowing snow, seek out sheltered terrain where the snow will not be wind affected and riding will be at its best.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

The ridge of high pressure will keep the region dry and cold, with the potential for lingering valley clouds. The next round of snow is expected late Saturday night as a shift in the weather pattern will occur.

Friday night: Clear periods. Lingering valley cloud. Alpine temperatures around -15 C. Light westerly winds.

Saturday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1000 m. Alpine temperatures around -8C. Strong southerly winds.

Sunday: Snow 5-10 cm. Freezing level rising to 1400 m. Alpine temperatures around -6 C. Strong southerly winds up to 60 km/h.

Monday: Snow 10-15 cm. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. Alpine temperatures around -2 C. Strong southerly winds up to 60 km/h.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported nor observed in the last 24 hours. If you venture out in the mountains, please consider completing a Mountain Information Report to share riding conditions or photos.

Earlier this week, shifting arctic winds have redistributed the storm snow into wind slabs and several natural avalanches occurred. Evidence of a widespread natural avalanche cycle from the last weekend’s storm is still visible.

As the last storm added load to the snowpack, the mid-January weak layer began to "wake up". In the neighboring region of North Colombia, large cornice-triggered natural persistent slab avalanches on an east aspect at treeline were reported earlier this week.

Snowpack Summary

Recent cold temperatures and northerly winds have modified and transported the last storm snow (20-80 cm), creating heavily wind-affected surfaces in exposed areas and wind slabs in lee areas. Below ~1200 m, 10-20 cm of snow is now overlying a thick melt-freeze crust. 

Up to 120 cm now overlies a weak layer formed in mid-February. This layer is comprised of surface hoar in sheltered areas, a melt-freeze crust at lower elevations, a sun-crust on steep solar aspects, and hard wind-affected snow in the alpine and exposed treeline. Reports suggest that in many areas, the recent snow is bonding poorly to this firm layer.

The late-January surface hoar/crust layer is now down 50-150 cm in the snowpack. During the last week, there was reactivity on this layer in the neighbouring Colombia regions. This layer may also be a concern in the Cariboos with a similar upper snowpack composition.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.