Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.
⚠️ Avoid All avalanche terrain ⚠️Soaring freezing levels and solar radiation will result in a widespread natural avalanche cycle on Sunday.
Check out our latest blog.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Friday. However, data for this region is very limited.
Large, naturally triggered avalanches are likely to occur on all aspects at treeline and above on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no overnight re-freeze of the snow surface. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
A widespread crust is buried 40-90 cm. In some areas, a weak layer of facets can be found above.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 10 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets overtop is down 40 to 90 cm. Large natural and human triggered avalanches occurring on this layer are very likely on Sunday.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
Cornices are large, looming and will likely trigger very large persistent slab avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3