Avalanche Forecast

Good

A weak frontal system should bring light precipitation to the interior midday Saturday but the Cariboos, especially the north, may only see scattered flurries. A ridge of high pressure builds in its wake on Sunday and should persist through Monday. The next system is expected for Tuesday. Saturday: Light precipitation 1-2mm, freezing level am: surface pm: 600m, ridgetop wind light SE-SWSunday: A mix of sun and cloud, dry conditions, freezing level am: surface pm: 900m, ridgetop wind light W-NWMonday: A mix of sun and cloud, dry conditions, freezing level am: surface pm: 1300m, ridgetop wind light S-SW

Reports from Thursday include several natural storm slab avalanches up to size 2 releasing down 30-40cm.  Also reported was a natural cornice fall triggering a size 2.5 avalanche which released on the early-February weak layer.Generally, we are still seeing relatively small inputs, like periods of strong winds or brief sunny breaks, trigger deeper persistent slab avalanches. Many of these events have occurred on southerly aspects from slopes in the alpine or at treeline. Extra caution is advised when the sun is out.

Around 30-40cm of recent storm snow fell earlier in the week. There may be a variety of layers within the storm snow including thin sun crusts, graupel balls, and maybe even small surface hoar from brief clearings overnight. Also, expect wind slabs in exposed lee and cross-loaded terrain from recent SW-W winds. This storm slab sits on a layer of surface hoar and/or sun crust. A couple other notable persistent weakness layers remain a concern in the mid-snowpack. The surface hoar/sun crust combo buried in early March is now down around 60-80 cm. The early-February surface hoar/facet/crust combo is down 90-150cm and widespread throughout the region. Smaller avalanches stepping down and cornice falls have the potential to initiate an avalanche on this deeply buried weak layer. The mid and lower snowpack remains weak and facetted in areas with a relatively shallow snowpack.