Avalanche forecast

Cariboos

Feb 17 – 19, 2012Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 15 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Thin new windslabs have formed on a variety of aspects in the alpine. Forecast moderate southwest winds in combination with new snow will contribute to continued slab formation.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Cornices are large and may become weak and fall off naturally. Large loads like cornices may trigger slab avalanches on the slopes below.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A storm tracking along the international border will largely miss the Caribou region. The forecast calls for 2 - 4 cm Saturday and just a trace on Sunday. Freezing levels will remain at the surface through the forecast period and temps in the Alpine will average -9 C.

Avalanche Summary

Skiers and riders have triggered thin soft windslabs in the alpine up to size 1.0 . Natural ice fall and a natural cornice fall to size 2.5 were reported from the region. The cornice fall released a slab, but there was not much propagation.

Snowpack Summary

The new snow layer above the February 09 surface hoar is now about 10-15 cm thick. Some areas have reported that the surface hoar had grown to 50 mm before being buried. Some thin windslabs have developed due to down flowing air on large glaciated features. A melt-freeze crust has developed on solar aspects at all elevations, and on all aspects below about 1400 metres. The mid-pack is generally well settled. There is some concern that large loads like cornices may trigger the Jan. 20th facet layer. Some shallow snowpack areas may continue to have a weak layer of basal facets near the ground.

Regions covered