Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Synopsis: Fairly static weather pattern, the arctic high pressure centre persists over Southeastern BC for the next few days. The models suggest that cloud and precipitation will push into the southern half of the province Thursday night/Friday. Tuesday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, NW | Ridgetop: Strong, NWWednesday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, Variable | Ridgetop: Moderate NW switching to Light SW Thursday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Light, SW | Ridgetop: Moderate, SW

We've had no avalanche reports since the weather cooled down. During the previous warm, rainy period, a widespread loose wet and wet slab avalanche cycle to size 2 was observed in the south of the region. We had reports of whumpfing and collapsing at treeline in the north of the region.

Around Kootenay Pass, rain moistened the snowpack to perhaps about 2000m on Thursday. It's expected that the snowpack in this region has now strengthened considerably. This region received 15 cm of storm snow on Friday night, which may have created pockets of wind slab or storm slab at upper elevations. Above about 2000m and in the north of the region, I have the most avalanche concerns. It's these areas which may be harboring a weak layer (formed during November's dry spell), now buried with this week's accumulated snow. We have very limited field information. If you have been out in the mountains, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at forecaster@avalanche.ca.