Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the complexity of the snowpack’s structure.

SUNDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries, 5-10 cm / strong southwest wind / alpine low temperature near -8 / freezing level 1400 m

MONDAY - Mainly cloudy with flurries, 5 cm / strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1500 m

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / moderate southwest wind / alpine high temperature near -8 / freezing level 1200 m

WEDNESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / moderate south wind / alpine high temperature near -6 / freezing level 1500 m

Multiple persistent weak layers in the snowpack may have reached their tipping point. Avalanches on these layers will be large and destructive. The only way to truly manage this problem is to stick to simple terrain.

There was a report of a natural size 2.5 avalanche running full path in the Dore River area on Thursday. A MIN report about this can be viewed here.

Several natural and human-triggered avalanches size 2-3.5 were reported on Tuesday near Valemount at alpine and treeline elevations. One very large human-triggered avalanche was initiated from a wind-loaded start zone at the top of a large alpine feature. It propagated for hundreds of meters along a ridge and ran to valley bottom. Thankfully the rider was able to escape unharmed.

On Tuesday, there was a fatal avalanche just outside of the region, northeast of Valemount, in Swift Creek. The avalanche was a size 3.5 and is suspected to have failed on the late January persistent weak layer. The report can be found here.

The snowpack in the Cariboos is currently complex, with multiple persistent weak layers.

The region has received 50-100 cm of fresh snow in the past week. There are deep wind deposits in lee features at upper elevations. The recent snow sits on a persistent weak layer of facets that formed on the surface during the early to mid-February cold snap.

There is now 80-180 cm of snow above another persistent weak layer from early February which is composed of surface hoar. This layer is most prevalent at treeline and below treeline. On steep south-facing terrain, this layer may consist of facets on a sun crust. 

Yet another persistent weak layer from late January exists down 90-200 cm. There have been very few recent reports of avalanches on this layer, however, there have been several large avalanches on this layer in the neighboring North Rockies region recently. Recent test results also suggest that this layer is still a serious concern, and will propagate widely if triggered.

• Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low-angle, well-supported terrain with no overhead hazard.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of buried persistent weak layers.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Be aware of highly variable recent wind loading patterns.