Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 16th, 2012–Jan 18th, 2012

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

Regions

Cariboos.

Confidence

Fair - Track of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

The region will largely remain under the influence of an outbreak of modified Arctic Air, at least through Wednesday evening. At 1500 m you can expect a H of -15 and a L of -30 on Tuesday. Winds will be light to moderate out of the SW up high and out of the N, NE at treeline elevations. The weather models can't seem to agree on a solution for later in the week. The GFS shows a storm system affecting the southern half of the province while the other models call for continued dry conditions. Check back tomorrow for more details.

Avalanche Summary

Sluffing continues to be an issue in step terrain. In some locations the outflow winds have begun to redistribute the weekend storm snow into wind slabs.

Snowpack Summary

The region has received as much as 30 cm in the last 72 hours, 50 cm in the last 7 days. Much of this snow has been accompanied by strong variable winds which has created a wind-slab problem in the alpine and treeline elevation bands. Cool dry Arctic air is creeping into the valleys in the far north portion of the region. This air mass will continue to work its way south which will tighten the snowpack up a bit, drop temperatures & introduce reverse winds at and below treeline.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.