Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Apr 5 – 6, 2012Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Generally lurking below ridgecrests, behind terrain features, and in gullies. Thick fresh wind slabs are highly sensitive to human triggers and cornice falls, and sun-exposure is expected to make things even more touchy.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Large and weak cornices could easily start popping off with sun-exposure. Not only are they a hazard in themselves, but can also act as a heavy trigger for very large avalanches on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Steep rocky terrain in the afternoon. Wet loose avalanches can entrain significant mass and run long distances.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY: Broken skies with locally light convective precipitation. Winds are light from the north, switching to the east in the afternoon. Freezing level hovering at 1100m. SATURDAY: A ridge of high pressure builds giving way to broken skies. Light southerly winds. Freezing level 1000-1200m. SUNDAY: The high pressure continues giving mostly clear skies and light west winds. Freezing level rising to 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

Observations from the past few days are limited. Reports include one natural cornice triggered Size 2.5, 100cm thick wind slab avalanche on a north aspect. One recent Size 3 glide slab avalanche was also observed on a south aspect at 1800m.

Snowpack Summary

Another 10-40cm during the past two days has added to 30-60cm of recent storm snow. Sustained southeasterly through northeasterly winds are contributing to continued wind slab formation as well as cornice development at upper elevations. Although generally settling and bonding well, recent snowpack tests on a north facing treeline slope resulted in easy to moderate shears down 25cm within the storm snow, and down 65cm on an underlying crust. Not only will daytime warming and sun-exposure cause surface snow to lose cohesion and cornices to weaken, they will also increase settlement rates and decrease slab stability.

Regions covered