Avalanche Forecast

The number of reports continues to decrease, however, large rider, natural and explosives-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported throughout the region. Some avalanches have run full path to the valley bottom. Many human-triggered avalanches have been remotely triggered (from a distance).

Last Sunday a fatal avalanche incident occurred north of Revelstoke. It was size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 2000 m. View the report.

A crust could be found on steep south and west-facing terrain at or just below the surface. Exposed terrain at higher elevations has been affected by recent wind blowing from a variety of directions.

50 to 120 cm overlies a variety of potential weak layers, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 160 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of weak facets above it.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
• Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
• Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.