Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Mar 6 – 7, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The February 12th persistent weak layer continues to be a concern across the Interior Regions. Avalanches failing on this layer of buried surface hoar will be large and destructive.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Recent cornice growth may not be well bonded and may fall off naturally during periods of strong solar radiation.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    4–7
    There is a weak layer of surface hoar buried down about 100-150 cms (February 12th layer) that may continue to be triggered by large forces like cornice fall or storm snow avalanches in motion.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    The recent storm snow continues to settle and bond, but may continue to be triggered by human activity. Strong solar radiation may cause increased activity on sun exposed aspects.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Thursday: Mostly sunny with light Northwest winds and no precipitation. Freezing level rising to 1200 metres during the day. Alpine temperature -9.0 overnight.Friday: The ridge is expected to continue to influence most of the province bringing mostly sunny skies and light winds with freezing levels rising to about 1200 metres.Saturday: Becoming cloudy overnight with light precipitation and moderate Southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

A few small avalanches up to size 1.0 were reported from Tuesday. Natural cornice fall continues to be a concern when the sun is shining.

Snowpack Summary

New sun crusts are reported to be forming on solar exposed aspects as the spring sun starts to pack more of a punch. The recent storm snow is settling, but storm slab releases are still possible. The weak layer of surface hoar that was buried around February 12th may be triggered by storm snow avalanches in motion, or by cornice fall and other large triggers. The strong solar radiation may trigger some cornice fall or release moist point releases in steep terrain that may step down to one of the deeper weak layers. I expect that the next couple of days will be a tricky combination of avoiding areas that slid during the warm wet weather, and gaining confidence in the areas that did not slide.

Regions covered