Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to extremely variable snowpack conditions reported through the region. Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

After a stormy period it looks like the intensity of the weather will back off for the next few days with quite cold temperatures, dribs and drabs of snow and consistent wind out of the southwest.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.

WEDNESDAY: Overcast at dawn clearing through the day, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.

THURSDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate southwest wind, potentially stronger at ridge top, 5 to 10 cm of snow possible.

FRIDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate southwest wind, trace of snow possible.

This region has been a hot spot for recent avalanche activity. A number of large natural avalanches up to size 3 were reported on east, southeast and south facing slopes above 2000 m in the Rossland area Monday with crowns up to 100 cm in depth.

In the rest of the region both natural and explosive controlled avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed on all aspects above 1800 m. Many avalanches failed on the December 27th Surface Hoar and one avalanche on a north/northeast facing slope at 1800 m involved the mid November facets.

On Sunday the bulk of the avalanche activity was limited to loose dry avalanches but a spooky avalanche was remote triggered by a group of skiers, more details and photos in this MIN report.

The storm of the last days brought 20 to 50 cm of snow which fell with moderate to strong southwest wind before winds switched to the north/northeast Sunday night. The resulting wind fueled storm slabs likely remain sensitive to human triggers, particularly in exposed lee terrain features. More recent snow might hide slabs and make it trickier to navigate around them.

Deeper in the snowpack, a few layers of weak and feathery surface hoar may still be found around 70 to 130 cm deep which have been active as recently as Monday. 

The base of the snowpack is also weak in parts of the region where it consists of sugary faceted snow around a melt-freeze crust. 

• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
• Avoid convexities as well as steep, open and/or sparsely treed slopes at and below treeline.
• Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.