Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Dec 4 – 5, 2013Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Highlights

This forecast is based on limited field observations. If you head into the mountains, please send a note to [email protected] and let us know what you saw.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Outflow winds are reverse-loading and cross-loading exposed slopes. Fresh and touchy wind slabs are likely lurking below ridge crests and behind terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Light loads such as skiers or sledders could trigger large avalanches associated with persistent weaknesses on sheltered slopes.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday through Saturday: Sunny and cold. Treeline temperatures are around -20 to -25 with moderate northeasterly winds.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported but incoming field data is still very limited. Several areas to the south in the Monashees have reported a number of natural and rider triggered avalanches up to Size 3 in the past couple days.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of recent storm snow overlies a variety of old snow surfaces including surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or sun crust on steep south facing slopes. There are two distinct weaknesses within the mid and lower snowpack: the early November surface hoar is down roughly half way (50-60cm) and the October rain crust is near the ground. While these layers have recently become dormant, any additional load from new snow, wind-loading and/or rain may cause these layers to reactivate in isolated areas causing large, destructive avalanches.

Regions covered