Avalanche Forecast
Cariboos
Human triggered avalanches are likely this weekend, especially on slopes getting hit by the sun.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded leeward and cross-loaded slopes
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls
Avalanche Summary
Heavy snowfall resulted in a widespread natural avalanche cycle on Tuesday and Wednesday. Storm slabs in the size 2-3 range were reported on all aspects between 1700 and 2500 m. Southerly aspects were the most reactive with numerous large and very large (size 2.5-3.5) avalanches running on a recently buried sun crust.
Avalanche activity continued following the storm, with a few size 2 natural storm slab avalanches reported on north and east aspects on Thursday. A cornice fall triggered a large slab avalanche with a 100 cm crown on a north aspect at 2600 m. A skier also remotely triggered a size 1 wind slab on a southeast aspect at 1900 m.
While the natural cycle is tapering off, human triggered avalanches remain likely at treeline and above where the touchy late-March crust/surface hoar layer exists.
Snowpack Summary
Another 10-20 cm of snow on Friday brings the weekly total to 60-100 cm. Storm snow was accompanied with moderate to strong winds from the southwest.
The storm snow sits on an interface buried in late-March that consist of crusts at low elevations and on south aspects, and surface hoar on shaded aspects at higher elevations.
Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators, but are generally considered dormant.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny with light west wind, freezing level up to 700 m, and alpine high temperatures near -10 C.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with light flurries (4-8 cm of snow), light wind, freezing level up to 800 m, and alpine high temperatures near -8 C.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with light wind, freezing level up to 600 m, and alpine high temperatures near -10 C.
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60-100 cm thick storm slabs are widespread and will be extra touchy on south aspects where they sit above buried sun crusts.