Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Clearwater, Goat, Gold, Jordan, Kokanee, North Columbia, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, Valhalla, Whatshan.
Avoid north-facing alpine slopes, where triggering persistent weak layers is most likely.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, numerous dry loose avalanches were reported. On some features, they gathered enough snow to become large.
Over the weekend, numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches, up to size 3.5, were reported at all elevations and aspects, many failing on the late January persistent weak layer.
On Sunday, a skier remotely triggered a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a NW slope at 2300 m near Kaslo.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 15 cm of new snow sits on a 3 to 5 cm thick melt-freeze crust that is everywhere except north facing slopes above 2000 m.
A weak layer, composed of facets, surface hoar, or a crust, is found 20 to 60 cm deep. Another persistent weak layer, buried in late January, lies 50 to 110 cm deep. This layer is surface hoar, facets, or a crust, depending on the aspect.
The remaining snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with 1 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers from January and February persist within the upper 100 cm of snow. Natural avalanche activity has tapered off with cooler temperatures; however, human triggering the persistent layers remains a concern.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches may occur if the sun comes out. Especially on steep slopes facing the sun.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5