Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, Kokanee, North Columbia, North Okanagan, North Selkirk, Retallack, Shuswap, South Columbia, Valhalla, Whatshan.
Continue to manage small sluffs, that could turn into a larger loose dry avalanche.
Even short windows of sun effect can turn steep south-facing slopes moist so pay attention to surface conditions if the sun starts to peak out.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several loose dry size 1 reported in the forecast region.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snow accumulated over the past week overlies a crust on all terrain except north-facing slopes treeline and above. On these high northerly slopes, soft snow overlies facets and surface hoar to mountain tops.
30-50 cm down there is another sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-10 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes. The distribution of this surface hoar is spotty.
The remainder of the mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern for human triggering in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas at treeline and above. Small avalanches and cornice falls also have the potential to trigger this deep layer.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with the possibility of convective flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light variable winds and treeline temperatures -6 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing a few cm of new snow. Light northwest winds and treeline temperatures of -6 °C.
Tuesday
Clear skies with no new snow expected. Light northerly winds and treeline temperatures of -6 °C.
Wednesday
Increasing clouds with no new snow expected. Light northeast winds and treeline temperatures of -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2.5 - 3.5
Loose Dry
New snow remains unconsolidated with cool temperatures and calm to light winds. The accumulated new snow sits on variable surfaces of hard wind-pressed, sun crust and some remaining pockets of soft snow on north-facing slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5