Avalanche Forecast

Cariboos

Date issued

Nov 29, 2017 - 3:51 PM

Valid until

Nov 30, 2017 - 2:00 PM

Prepared by

jlammers

This forecast is based on very few field observations. This  high level of uncertainty warrants conservative terrain selection.

Regular season
Wednesday - November 29, 2017
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Thursday - November 30, 2017
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Friday - December 1, 2017
Alpine

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation,cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible;human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

Treeline

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

Below Treeline

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

New wind and snow on Wednesday night and Thursday will form reactive new storm slabs. Surface avalanches may "step down" to buried weak layers resulting in surprisingly large avalanches.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs

What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?

Not much is known about the reactivity of a hard crust which lurks deep in the snowpack. This uncertainty warrants conservative terrain selection as an avalanche at this interface could be large and destructive.

Travel and Terrain Advice
  • Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain during periods of rapid loading by rain, snow, or wind.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported in this region. This may speak to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. With forecast wind and snow, a natural storm slab avalanche cycle is expected on Wednesday night and into Thursday.

We currently have very limited observations from this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. At higher elevations, southerly winds (gusting strong at times) likely redistributed the new snow, forming wind slabs on lee features.

Below the recent storm snow you may find a couple of crusts which formed during last week's rain. That said, little is known about the reactivity of these crusts or the elevation bands at which you're likely to find them.

A major feature in the snowpack is a crust which formed around November 11th and can be found approximately 100cm down at treeline elevations. We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.

The depth of the snowpack varies greatly with elevation. Recent reports suggest the average depth is 200+cm in the alpine, 100-160cm at treeline, and decreasing rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday evening: 5-15cm of new snow / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1100m

Thursday: 8-15cm of new snow / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1100m 

Friday: 3-5cm of new snow / Light southerly winds / Freezing level at 1100m

Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southerly winds  / Freezing level at 700m

Danger Ratings Explained

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.

Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely.

Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely.

Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.

5 - Extreme

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.

Large to very large avalanches in many areas.

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