Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear, light wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures drop to -30 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -25 C.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud and isolated flurries with 5-10 cm of low density snow, light wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -15 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and up to 5 cm of snow, light wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -12 C.

Riders have triggered numerous small (size 1) wind slab, storm slab, and dry loose avalanches over the past few days as well as observe a few larger (size 2) wind slabs in alpine terrain. There have also been several reports of large persistent slab avalanches being reactive to human triggering over the past week. These avalanches have been reported in the Selkirks and the northern tip of the Monashees (near Blue River and Valemount). The avalanches have failed on a surface hoar layer buried roughly 100 cm below the surface, and in terrain between elevations of 1200 to 2100 m on north and east aspects. Examples include a size 3 avalanche that was remotely triggered on Saturday and a size 2.5 avalanche triggered by a snowmobiler in Clemina on Friday (see photo in this MIN report).

As cold arctic air settles over the region expect wind slabs in unusual places due to northerly winds, while sheltered areas still have 20-40 cm of cold powder. A layer of surface hoar is now buried 80-150 cm below the surface and continues to be a concern certain parts of the Selkriks and the northern end of the Monashees. A facet/crust layer from late November lingers near the bottom of the snowpack and has occasionally been reactive in isolated shallow snowpack areas.

• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.