Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, West Purcell, Whatshan.
Avalanche danger may increase during the day with sun and rising temperaturesRider triggering of large avalanches is an ongoing concern. Choose conservative, low consequence terrain
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The region continued to see widespread avalanche activity on Tuesday including naturals up to size 3, and rider triggered avalanches up to size 2.
Ongoing natural, rider and remotely triggered avalanches persist on this layer. With the province heating up this weekend it's a good time to avoid avalanche terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow totals 40 to 60 cm across the region. The new snow sits on sun crusts and wind-affected snow from previous strong southwest winds. A melt-freeze crust exists on the surface up to 1700 m and to ridgetop on solar slopes.
Below this, two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.
A thick and hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas and has been reactive to human triggering.
The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Thursday
Sunny with cloudy periods. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -1°C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Friday
Sunny. Mostly light winds but in places gusty to 40 km/h from the northwest at ridgetop. Alpine temperatures high near +5°C. Freezing level rising to 3000 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures low of +5°C and a high of +8°C Freezing level rising 3200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of faceted grains above a crust buried 80 to 150 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. Remote triggering is an ongoing concern and means the layer is still primed for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may release on weak layers from late Febuary and early March resulting in larger avalanches. There is also concern for these avalanches stepping all the way down to the early Febuary layer.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches are likely on solar aspects when the sun is out. Natural avalanches, pinwheeling/snowballing and moist snow surfaces indicates an unstable upper snowpack.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2