Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Clearwater, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Retallack, Shuswap, South Columbia, Whatshan.
Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, a naturally triggered size 2 wind slab was reported on a northerly aspect in the alpine.
It has been over a week since human-triggered avalanches were reported on the early April surface hoar layers.
NOTE: Observations are currently very limited in this region.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of recent snow may be found at upper elevations. This snow overlies a robust crust everywhere except northerly aspects at upper elevations.
Most terrain has undergone strong melt-freeze cycles, but the snowpack remains slightly more complex on north-facing alpine slopes. In the Selkirks, two surface hoar layers are buried 30 to 60 cm deep, and older weak layers may exist in the middle of the snowpack across the region.
However, none of these layers are expected to be reactive under current conditions.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 10 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Avalanche Problems
Cornices
Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3