Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Clearwater, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Okanagan, North Selkirk, Shuswap, South Columbia, West Purcell.
Watch for fresh and reactive wind slabs forming in high leeward terrain features.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A small handful of avalanches have been reported in the alpine over past couple of days. These have included;
a remotely skier-triggered size 2 failing on moist snow below the crust, in which another skier was caught but did not sustain any injury
a skier-controlled size 1 wind slab below an convex roll
a natural size 2 storm slab on a steep, west-facing moraine feature
a cornice failure did not propagate any weak layers on the slope below
Snowpack Summary
New snow falls over a widespread melt-freeze crust on all but high north-facing alpine terrain, where dry and/or wind affected snow may be found.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Up to 10 cm of new snow at upper elevations. 30 to 60 km/h southeast to southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow at upper elevations. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Monday
Clouds clearing. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 30 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh wind slabs will likely form throughout the day, diligently watch for changing conditions.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and wind are forming fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations. Wind slabs may be especially reactive where they sit over a crust.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5