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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 4th, 2025–Mar 5th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Dial back your terrain choices if you’re finding more than 20 cm of storm snow. Avoid north-facing alpine slopes, these areas are where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Monday near Kamloops, a natural size 2 glide slab avalanche was reported on a southwest-facing slope at 1500 m.

On Saturday, a rider triggered size 2, persistent slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche occurred on a west facing slope at 2000 m. See MIN for details.

Snowpack Summary

By Wednesday morning, 5 to 15 cm of snow covers a melt-freeze crust. The crust exists on all aspects, except possibly high-elevation north-facing slopes. This overlies 30 to 60 cm of snow that sits above a crust in many areas or surface hoar/facets in wind-sheltered areas.

A weak layer, buried in late January, consists of surface hoar/facets or a crust is found down 50 to 90 cm. This remains a lingering concern. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy with flurries, 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Thursday

Mainly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.