Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Clearwater, Gold, Kootenay Boundary, North Okanagan, Rossland, Shuswap, South Columbia, South Okanagan, Whatshan.
Continue to practice safe travel habits when travelling in the backcountry.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
We haven't received any reports of recent avalanche activity.
Please consider submitting your observations to the MIN if you head to the backcountry.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow will accumulate Tuesday night into Wednesday. On northerly alpine terrain the new snow will fall onto surface hoar crystals that overly soft or wind affect snow. Elsewhere, the snow will fall onto a hard melt-freeze crust.
Weak faceted grains above a hard crust that formed in early February is buried somewhere around 100 to 150 cm deep. The layer is strengthening and is currently dormant.
The remainder of the snowpack is settled.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.