Avalanche Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with a few flurries / light southwest wind / alpine low temperature near -7 

THURSDAY - A mix of sun and cloud/ light south wind / alpine high temperature near -4 

FRIDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate southeast wind / alpine high temperature near -2 

SATURDAY - Mainly cloudy / light south wind / alpine high temperature near -7

Storm slabs will likely be easiest to trigger in wind loaded areas, as well as in the trees where they may rest on a buried surface hoar layer.

Numerous natural, human, and explosives triggered avalanches size 1-3 were reported in the region on Tuesday. Of these, many were storm and wind slab avalanches, however, it is notable that some of the larger ones were reported to have run on the early December persistent weak layer. These ones occurred on northeast through south aspects in the alpine.

Numerous size 1-2 human and explosives triggered storm and wind slab avalanches were reported on Monday. 

It is notable that there were several human triggered avalanches reported at lower elevations in the neighboring Glacier National Park region on Monday. These avalanches highlight the potential to trigger avalanches in the trees. Reports of these can be viewed here, here, and here.

On Sunday, numerous natural, human and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 3.5 were reported in the region. Check out this MIN report from Sunday of an avalanche below treeline on Begbie Shoulder near Revelstoke.

The recent stormy weather has brought around 40-80 cm of new snow to the region with moderate to strong winds. Storm slabs are likely widespread. In many areas, the storm snow sits on a weak layer of surface hoar that was buried around Christmas. This layer continues to be of concern, mainly at treeline and below treeline.

Two persistent weak layers buried in early/mid-December are now down about 90-150 cm. The form and distribution of these layers are highly variable and may vary significantly from one valley to the next. The first layer has been primarily reported as small surface hoar. The next layer has been reported as a thin freezing rain crust, surface hoar, or thick rain crust depending on elevation and location. This layer also remains a concern.

• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
• Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.