Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Feb 7 – 8, 2012Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 15 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–7
    Large cornices are looming over many slopes. They are weakest when it's warm and sunny. A falling chunk could trigger a large avalanche on the slope below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Direct sun and warming can trigger loose avalanches, especially in steep south-facing terrain. This problem will decrease when cloud cover arrives.

Avalanche Summary

Solar warming has caused many avalanches on steep sunny aspects, mostly in the size 1-1.5 range. Large chunks of cornice fall have been reported most days, with limited effect on the slope below.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Cloud building by afternoon, with a few flurries possible. Southerly winds increasing by afternoon. Freezing level near valley bottom.Thursday/Friday: A few cm snow each day. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing level rising to 1500m late Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Very warm alpine temperatures recently melted surface snow layers. A crust (or moist snow, depending on the time of day) now exists to ridge top on solar aspects. Large weak cornices are plentiful and wind slabs exist in certain areas. The upper snowpack appears to be settling well. Below about 1500m, crust/facet layers buried in early January are still causing operators concern.

Regions covered