Avalanche Forecast
Cariboos
Avalanche problems are becoming increasingly touchy. The greatest concern is in the south of the region where more snow recently accumulated. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended in the south of the region.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered, the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- The new snow sits on a persistent weak layer and will require more time than usual to stabilize.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A weak layer buried 40-70 cm deep is becoming increasingly reactive in many areas of the BC interior. This layer has produced numerous large avalanches and is an increasing concern in the Cariboos - especially in the south of the region.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Tuesday included several Size 1-1.5 persistent slab releases that were triggered remotely (from a distance). With slab depths of 30-100 cm, both the January 5 and December 15 surface hoar layers were noted as failure planes. 'Step down' type releases were also observed.
Considerably more avalanche activity has been reported from the adjacent North Columbias, where numerous persistent slabs and storm slabs have recently been observed running naturally and with remote triggers. Sizes have ranged from small to large (Size 1-2.5) with slab depths from 30-70 cm. This activity has been observed on all aspects and elevation ranges, although the deeper releases running on the December 15 surface hoar have been focused at treeline and below.
Conditions in the south of the Cariboo region are not drastically different from the North Columbias at the moment, so it is advised to consider activity in this neighbouring region as indicative of the potential that exists in the Cariboos.
Please share your observations through the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storms have brought 20-50 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. The deepest accumulations exist in the south of the region. Moderate southwesterly winds accompanied this snowfall in the alpine, which created wind slabs in lee features.
As the new snow continues to consolidate, it gradually forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. Reactivity at this layer has been increasing and is most apparent at treeline and below treeline. Both of these layers are buried deeper and present greater danger in the south of the region.
Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light southeast winds. Alpine high temperatures of -12.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures to -8.
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures of -1 with a likely temperature inversion.
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Recent snowfall has formed touchy storm slabs at all elevations, especially in the south of the region. Weak layers exist below the new snow as well as deeper in the snowpack and small storm slab releases may 'step down' to a deeper weak layer.