Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Jan 16 – 17, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Where dry snow exists in the alpine, watch for reactive wind slab in leeward terrain features.

A surface crust will create challenging travel conditions.


Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong northwest wind may form fresh wind slabs in the alpine, especially where a capping surface crust does not exist.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, reports from the region saw natural storm slab avalanches up to (size 2.5), a few cornice falls that triggered persistent slabs up to (size 3) from the slopes below.

With a cooling and drying trend on Friday, we expect avalanche activity to taper significantly until warmer weather arrives for the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

A 1 to 5 cm thick melt-freeze surface crust will likely exist up to 2300 m on all aspects. With sunny skies, this crust may break down during the day, showing moist snow surfaces, especially on steep south-facing slopes. In the alpine, where dry snow persists, expect isolated pockets of wind slab and wind-affected snow surfaces. Large, overhanging cornices linger.

A surface hoar layer buried in early January may be found down 100+ cm. The prominent mid-December crust is now buried around 1.5 m deep. Triggering these layers is considered unlikely, except with large loads like a cornice failure or in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday
Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Alpine temperatures 0 °C. Freezing level 2500 m. Alpine temperature inversion.

Sunday
Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Alpine temperatures -1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m. Alpine temperature inversion.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
  • Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.

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