Avalanche Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries / southeast wind, 20-30 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8

TUESDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -6 / freezing level 1300 m

WEDNESDAY - Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -7 / freezing level 1300 m

THURSDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -6 / freezing level 1200 m

There was a notable avalanche reported in the northern Monashees on Saturday. It was a natural size 4 persistent slab avalanche. It was triggered by a wind slab avalanche that stepped down to a deeper layer.

There was also a notable size 3 persistent slab avalanche in the northern Selkirks on Saturday that was triggered by explosives on a southwest aspect in the alpine.

Since Friday, there have been numerous reports of natural, explosives and human triggered wind and storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5 on all aspects, mainly at treeline and in the alpine. 

Regular snowfall over the past week brought about 40-80 cm of snow to the region, with the greatest accumulations in Monashees. Moderate to strong southerly winds and warm temperatures have promoted slab development at treeline and in the alpine.

Recent rain at lower elevations means that the surface may be either a melt-freeze crust, or wet snow below about 1500 m.

There is a weak layer of surface hoar that is now buried 90 to 170 cm. This layer is suspected to have produced sporadic recent large avalanches in the region.

• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect and exposure to wind.