Avalanche Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, light to moderate wind from the northwest, alpine temperatures drop to -25 C.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and trace accumulations of snow, light wind from the north, alpine high temperatures around -20 C.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the north, alpine high temperatures around -25 C.

TUESDAY: Sunny, light wind from the north, alpine high temperatures around -28 C.

No new avalanches have been reported over the past three days. A large persistent slab avalanche was triggered by a rider in the Clemina area on Friday (see the MIN report). Although this is in the neighboring North Columbia region, a similar problem exists in the Cariboos. Over the past week avalanches releasing on the same surface hoar layer have been reported in the Cariboos. Check out this MIN, this MIN, and this MIN for helpful illustrations of slopes that are likely to harbor this problem. Looking forward, this problem appears to have variable distribution across the region, meaning steep terrain should continue to be approached cautiously.

Low density snow continues to accumulate. Most areas likely have 10-30 cm of soft snow, but stiffer and reactive slabs could be forming in terrain affected by the wind. Recent storms have loaded a concerning layer of surface hoar from late December, which is now buried 60-120 cm deep. Recent observations and snowpack tests suggest the reactivity of this layer is now variable across the region. Preserved surface hoar could potentially be found on sheltered slopes anywhere in the region, with the potential for producing large avalanches.

• Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.