Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Mar 14 – 15, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

20-30 cm of recent snow and moderate south wind formed storm slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers.

Make conservative terrain choices and use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    20-30 cm of recent snow and moderate south wind formed storm slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Expect natural wet loose avalanches on steep sunny aspects when the sun comes out.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2.5–4

    A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A naturally triggered size 1.5 storm slab on a northeast aspect at treeline was reported near Blue River on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm of recent snow and moderate south wind formed storm slabs that may remain reactive to human triggers.

Below the new snow are a variety of surfaces. These include surface hoar (3-10 mm) on shady slopes at all elevations, wind affected surfaces at treeline and above, and sun crust on sunny aspects.

The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story.

The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy / 30 km/h south ridgetop wind / Low temperature at treeline around -11 C / Freezing level valley bottom

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / 20 km/h west ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -9 C / Freezing level 1100 m

Thursday

Mostly sunny / 10 km/h west ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level 1400 m

Friday

Sunny / 10 km/h south ridgetop wind / High temperature at treeline around -4 C / Freezing level 1600 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Regions covered