Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, South Columbia.
Avoid large open slopes and wind-affected snow near ridgelines. Recent avalanches have been triggered within the recent snow, and on buried weak layers.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity continues in this region with numerous natural and human triggered avalanches within the storm snow, primarily in wind loaded treeline and alpine features.
Multiple avalanches on the early December interface have occurred over the past week on north, east and west facing slopes around 2200 m. This includes large remotely triggered slabs, and human triggered cornice-falls triggering slabs on the slope below.
See the photos below for examples.
Snowpack Summary
Light amounts of snow continue to accumulate, falling on wind affected settling storm snow or a melt freeze crust on sun affected slopes. Cornices are large and fragile from recent winds and mild temperatures.
A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and in some places surface hoar is buried 60 to 110 cm deep. The distribution is variable throughout this region but it is most prevalent between 1700 to 2300 m. Large avalanches occurred on this layer on Saturday and Sunday, in north through southwest facing slopes above treeline.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 to 40 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures drop to -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Light snow continues overnight with localised hot spots of 20 cm possible in the Monashees.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for wind slabs near ridgelines and mid slope rollovers. Slabs may step down to buried weak layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Recent avalanches included cornices and remote triggers - showing a range of sensitivity which brings uncertainty. Avoid large open slopes at treeline, where fragile surface hoar is more likely to be preserved.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3