Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.
Travel one at a time in avalanche terrain, and avoid steep slopes if you see signs of instability like shooting cracks.
The most caution will be required around wind exposed ridges.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find wind slabs on leeward slopes in the alpine and at treeline. Recent snowfall varies across the region. 20-40 cm of settling snow sits on small surface hoar or a thin crust in specific terrain.
A crust buried in early December is 50 to 85 cm deep. In some places there are weak facets above the crust, but it is not a current avalanche problem.
The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well settled.
The snowpack is 100-150 cm deep at treeline.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Possible temperature inversion above 1500 m. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Possible temperature inversion above 1000 m. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Continued moderate wind may keep building small wind slabs below ridgelines and in cross-loaded features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2