Be sure to read the North Columbia forecast if you're riding in the Cariboos just west of Hwy 5. Conditions could be quite similar, meaning slightly higher local avalanche danger.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY: Mainly sunny and dry with isolated valley cloud dissipating throughout the day. Freezing levels reaching 1500m and light variable winds. THURSDAY: Mainly sunny and dry with isolated valley cloud dissipating throughout the day. A temperature inversion is expected to result in above freezing temperatures well into alpine elevations Winds should remain generally light from the south.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Sunday are limited, but include a couple of skier-controlled storm and wind slabs avalanches up to Size 1.5, and numerous natural 15cm deep wind slab avalanches up to Size 2 on leeward and cross-loaded features.
Snowpack Summary
About 40-60 cm of snow fell over the past week. You may find a wind-affected surface in exposed terrain, or a sun crust/moist snow on solar aspects depending on the time of day. Below the storm snow you are likely to find a melt-freeze crust. This crust exists in most places except for higher elevation shaded terrain. In many areas there seems to be a reasonable bond between the crust and the overlying snow. I'd still keep an eye on this interface as it has become reactive on some features. Surface hoar buried in early January now lies up to 180cm below the surface and has become less of a concern. Possible triggers for this deep and destructive layer include a large cornice fall or significant warming from periods of strong solar radiation.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.