Avalanche Forecast

A cold front approaches from the north overnight, bringing light snowfall and cold temperatures. Snowfall will favour the eastern slopes.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud with strong west/northwest winds. Isolated flurries are possible, with freezing levels at valley bottom (Western terrain may see freezing levels remain around 1000 m overnight).

MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate northwest winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m with up to 5cm possible. Alpine high of -5.

TUESDAY: Mostly clear with light northeast winds. Freezing levels below valley bottom. Alpine high of -10. 

WEDNESDAY: Mostly clear skies with moderate northwest winds. Freezing levels below valley bottom, alpine high of -10.

On Saturday and Sunday isolated naturally triggered size 2 wind slabs were reported on a variety of aspects. On Friday several natural avalanches were observed to size 1 in the southern Cariboos, triggered by the sun. As conditions cool slabs are expected to be less reactive. 

Strong northwest winds will redistribute snow onto south and east facing slopes. Small wind loaded pockets will build over sun crusts on south-facing slopes and wind affected alpine surfaces. A layer of surface hoar may be buried in wind-sheltered terrain features. The bond between wind distributed snow and old snow surfaces may be poor. 

Lower elevations have seen warm temperatures last week and have a melt freeze crust on the surface to 1500 m. 

The lower snowpack is generally well bonded, with prominent crust layers 50 to 100 cm deep. While there have been some snowpack test results on weak snow around these crusts in the Blue River and Valemount areas, we do not expect avalanches on these layers under the current conditions.

• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.