Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Clearwater, North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.
Mushy snow remains down low, up high it will be crusty.
Thin slabs may exist and wet avalanches could persist.
Travel conditions will be tricky, trust me.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The natural avalanche cycle observed on the weekend and earlier in the week due to the warming event has begun to taper with cooling temperatures. Natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches were reported on all aspects and elevations up to size 2.
Snowpack Summary
Moist or crusty snow surfaces exist from recent rain and warm temperatures. Up to 10 cm of new snow may overlie this crust in the alpine. At lower elevations the snowpack is isothermal.
A layer of facets formed during the mid-January cold snap sits 30-50 cm deep. Another weak layer consisting of a crust and facets is down 50 to 100 cm.
Basal facets exist at the base of the snowpack. Snowpack depths at treeline average 100-140 cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Cloudy with light rain or snow, up to 5 mm. Alpine wind south 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1700 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow. Alpine wind southwest 10 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1700 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind northwest 15 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. freezing level dropping to 1200 m.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine wind light and variable. Treeline temperature -4 °C. freezing level dropping to 700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
In the alpine, pockets of wind-transported dry snow may form small but reactive wind slabs overlying a crust.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Loose Wet
At lower elevations where the snowpack may remain saturated from rain and warm temperatures, wet loose avalanches may continue to occur and could entrain significant mass, resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5