Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Dogtooth, Esplanade, Glacier, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Selkirk, South Columbia, West Purcell.
Human-triggered avalanches are likely.
Choose conservative terrain and regroup in safe spots.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Large to very large (size 2 to 3.5), natural and human-triggered persistent and storm slab avalanches continue to be reported. Many of these avalanches occurred in the alpine and ran over 1000 m to the valley bottom.
Large human-triggered avalanches continue to remain likely.
Snowpack Summary
35 to 65 cm of new snow fell since Thursday. A melt-freeze crust can be found on south aspects. Moderate, gusting to strong southwest winds have formed new wind slabs. Over the past 7 days, up to 100 cm of storm snow has accumulated and it overlies a hard melt-freeze crust and surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered areas.
Weak layers of surface hoar and/or faceted grains, buried in mid-February and late January, are found 80 to 160 cm deep.
The lower half of the snowpack remains strong.
Weather Summary
Monday night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
Sunny with clouds increasing through the day. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
New snow and wind have formed reactive new slabs. Expect wind slab avalanches to be present on North through to east aspect terrain near or just below ridge crests.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Buried weak layers from early March, mid February and late January and can still be triggered, particularly at upper treeline and alpine elevations. Storm slab avalanches could step down to these layers, forming very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5