Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Apr 17 – 18, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

A hot sun and rising freezing levels will cause avalanche hazard to rise through the day and over the weekend.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Cornices are large, looming, and can trigger large avalanches on the slopes below. Cornices will become increasingly fragile as temperatures rise through the weekend.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Winds may leave more reactive deposits around ridge lines and lee features. Strong solar radiation may increase the reactivity of recently formed storm slabs, especially on steep slopes in the alpine.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Watch for sunny skies and warm spring temperatures to trigger wet loose avalanches on solar slopes and lower elevations. Expect this problem to increase at upper elevations over the weekend alongside rising freezing levels.

Snowpack Summary

At upper elevations, wind, sun, and spring temperatures continue to impact 20 to 40 cm of recent powder. Below the recent snow is a hard crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2500 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, riders triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2. Several occurred on northerly aspects in the afternoon, possibly influenced by daytime warming encouraging loose snow to gain cohesion.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, ridgers triggered storm and wind slabs to size 2, many on northerly aspects and steep alpine slopes. On Wednesday, a size 3.5 avalanche failed naturally in the last 24 hours on a south aspect at 2300 m, likely triggered by solar input.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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