Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Columbia, West Purcell, Whatshan.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully at upper elevations where both persistent and wind slab avalanches are possible.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few small (size 1) wind slab and dry loose avalanches were triggered by riders and explosives on Tuesday. With incoming snow and wind, small avalanches in the surface snow will likely continue.
The last reported persistent slab avalanche on the buried surface hoar was last Saturday. Triggering a persistent slab avalanche remains possible in upper treeline and alpine terrain.
Snowpack Summary
New snow is gradually accumulating over crusts, surface hoar, and facets. Amounts on this interface vary from 5 to 30 cm, and reports suggest it may be bonding poorly.
A crust formed by a December rain event is found roughly 60 cm deep, and a layer of surface hoar is found 60 to 100 cm deep. Where it exists, the crust makes it harder to trigger the surface hoar layer, but triggering remains a concern at higher elevations where the crust is less prominent.
The lower snowpack is variable throughout the region, with basal facets possible in shallower snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Thursday night
Cloudy with 3 to 8 cm of new snow, alpine wind southwest 40 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow, alpine wind southwest 40 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow, alpine wind southwest 35 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with a trace of new snow, alpine wind northwest 20 km/h, treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Small avalanches will be possible on slopes with deeper deposits of new snow, especially wind-loaded terrain features.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
A layer of surface hoar buried 60 to 100 cm deep is likely becoming harder to trigger.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 2.5