Cariboos

Cornices continue to grow with new snow and wind, this new growth is overhanging and may break off naturally. Avoid exposure to steep open slopes where there is exposure to cornices.

Reports of natural and cornice-triggered wind slabs continue to trickle in reminding us that human triggering of these layers remains possible.

Going forward new snow and continued winds will build new wind slabs over old wind slabs that remain reactive to large loads.

Roughly 15 to 20 cm of new snow coupled with moderate west winds will be developing new wind slabs at treeline and alpine elevations. A thin surface crust can be found on steep solar aspects. Below this, the upper snowpack continues to settle and bond to previous surfaces.

The mid-pack is showing signs of strengthening. A surface hoar layer down roughly 60 to 80 cm has not produced avalanches recently but can still be found in isolated terrain features specifically sheltered, treeline, and upper below treeline.

The lower snowpack is composed of large and weak facets from November located near the base of the snowpack. Additional load or step-down avalanches over the next few days may wake this layer up.

Thursday night

Mainly cloudy, snowfall easing accumulation 3 to 5 cm, 20 to 30 km/h westerly winds, treeline temperatures -10 °C.

Friday

Mostly clear increasing clouds overnight, isolated flurries, increasingly snowy overnight into Saturday morning 4 to 6 cm accumulation, 20 to 30 km/h west winds, treeline temperatures -10 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall easing in the afternoon, 4 to 6 cm accumulation, 15 to 20 km/h west winds, treeline temperatures -8 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with snowfall, 5 to 10 cm accumulation, 20 to 30 km/h west winds, treeline temperatures -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.