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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 3rd, 2019–Mar 4th, 2019

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, 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.

Regions

Cariboos.

Avoiding wind-affected upper elevations is likely to lead you into sheltered areas where a tricky persistent weak layer may be well preserved. Keep your guard up at lower elevations by seeking out lower angle, lower consequence slopes.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Sunday night: Clear. Light east or northeast winds.Monday: Sunny. Light east or northeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -11.Tuesday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Light east winds. Alpine high temperatures around -11.Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate southeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported in the region over the past few days, but observations in neighbouring regions have shown regular, generally small (size 1) wind slabs reacting to skier traffic and ski cutting at higher elevations. Snowpack tests results highlighting ongoing weakness at our mid-January persistent weak layer as well as occasional persistent slab avalanches have been a regular feature of recent reports. A recent post from the VARDA team highlights ongoing concern for persistent slab problems in the Cariboos. See the link here.

Snowpack Summary

Weeks of mainly dry, windy, and cold weather have transformed the snowpack at upper elevations into a mix of wind-affected surfaces and wind slabs of varying ages on all aspects. These wind slabs have shown prolonged reactivity because of the faceted (weak, sugary snow) they overlie. In more sheltered areas at lower elevations, a weak layer buried in mid January can be found approximately 50-60 cm deep. This layer consists of surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) and facets, and may be combined with a crust on south facing slopes. Avalanche activity on this layer has been on the decline, but snowpack test results continue to indicate this layer may still be possible to human trigger in specific locations. It has been most reactive in sheltered openings at lower elevations and especially below treeline.The lower snowpack is generally considered to be strong, except for shallow, rocky areas where cold temperatures continue to facet (weaken) the 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.