Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Kokanee, Retallack, South Columbia, Valhalla, Whatshan.
Choose mellow terrain that is sheltered from the wind.
Uncertainty about a persistent weak layer means that it's not time to venture into steep or consequential terrain.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, a large avalanche was remotely triggered on the early December layer at 2250 m on an east facing slope. See the photo below for more info and a link to the report. This layer may now be harder to trigger, but it could result in a very large, deadly avalanche.
Otherwise, numerous small to large (up to size 2) natural and rider triggered avalanches were reported in the recent snow, especially in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find 40 to 80 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas, and wind slabs on lee slopes below peaks and ridgelines. On sun affected slopes, the recent snow covers a melt freeze crust.
A concerning layer of facets, crusts, and/or surface hoar is buried 60 to 120 cm. It is most likely to be a problem on north through east aspects between 1700 to 2300 m. Reports of avalanches on this layer have been intermittent, and we aren't ready to ignore it just yet.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, possible hotspots of 25 cm or more. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -5 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. Light variable wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with 2-5 cm of snow. 5 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °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.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Continued snowfall is keeping a surface snow avalanche problem alive. Expect slabs to be deeper and more reactive on leeward slopes due to recent south through west wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
This layer is getting harder to trigger, but has potential to produce a very large avalanche. It is most likely to be a problem on north through east facing slopes between 1700 and 2300 m. Most activity has been in the east of the forecast area.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3.5