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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 25th, 2013–Feb 26th, 2013

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Cariboos.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: A brief ridge of high pressure is expected to form and give drier conditions with sunny breaks for Tuesday. The next system reaches the coast on Tuesday and spreads more cloud and light precipitation to the Interior by Tuesday night. Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is around 1000 m and winds are light to moderate from the southwest.Wednesday: Increasing cloud and light snow. The freezing level should remain near 1000 m. Thursday: Mainly cloudy with light snow. The freezing level is around 1000 m and winds are generally light from the southwest.

Avalanche Summary

There are several reports of natural slab and loose snow avalanches up to size 2. There are also a few reports of avalanches being triggered from a distance and failing on the February 12 surface hoar layer. Most of these events occurred below treeline in north facing terrain.

Snowpack Summary

50-90 cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. Strong west-southwest winds have redistributed the new snow into deep wind slabs on exposed lee slopes and cross-loaded gully features. The February 12 persistent weak layer (crust, and/or surface hoar) is now down 60-90 cm and is primed for triggering. Recent snowpack tests have shown easy to moderate "pops" results on this interface and has been particularly touchy on south aspects where a sun crust exists. Widespread whumpfing has also been reported. Deeper persistent weak layers from early February and late January continue to show planar failures when moderate to hard forces are applied in snow pack tests. These deeper layers have not been reactive to the weight of a rider, but they may be triggered by large loads like an avalanche in motion (step-down avalanche), or a cornice fall.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.