Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Apr 2 – 3, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–6
    Cornices weaken with daytime warming and become more likely to fail.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–5
    Loose wet avalanches will run on solar aspects if there is intense radiation during the heat of the day. Wet slab avalanches are also possible, particularly on solar aspects where buried crusts exist.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Overcast skies / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at 1700mThursday: A high pressure system builds promoting clear and dry conditions with light westerly winds and 1800m freezing levels.Friday: An upper trough of low pressure will move over the Interior on Friday bringing light to locally moderate precipitation. Freezing levels will be in the valley bottom in the morning and rise to 1700m in the afternoon.

Avalanche Summary

Natural wet-loose and slab avalanches up to size 2.5 continue to be reported from throughout the region on solar aspects. Isolated cornice releases up to 2.0 have also been reported.

Snowpack Summary

Clear, warm days and cold nights have brought spring's daily melt freeze cycle to the surface snow on sunny aspects into the alpine and all aspects at lower elevations (below 1800m). On high shaded terrain surface hoar is growing, and warm temperatures have promoted settlement within the upper snowpack. Cornices are quite large.The March 10th surface hoar/crust interface is buried more than 100cm in most places. Although unlikely to trigger, this deep persistent weakness remains a concern because of the potential for very large avalanches particularly with heavy triggers such as cornice falls or lighter triggers on solar aspects where the crust is more prevalent.Below this the snowpack is well settled and strong.

Regions covered