Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system.

A series of storms are set to hit the region in the next few days. Moderate to heavy snowfalls, rising freezing levels, and warmers temperatures are expected until mid-week. The south part of the region, near Revelstoke, will receive the heaviest amounts of snowfalls.

Sunday night: Snow 5-10 cm overnight. Freezing level around 600 m. Alpine temperatures around -6 C. Moderate southwesterly winds gusting 50 km/h.

Monday: Snow 10-15 cm + 20-30 cm overnight. Freezing level rising to 1000 m. Alpine temperatures around -4 C. Moderate southwesterly winds gusting 50 km/h.

Tuesday: Snow 5-10 cm. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. Alpine temperatures around -2 C. Strong southerly winds gusting 65 km/h.

Wednesday: Flurries. Freezing level rising to 1400 m. Alpine temperatures around -4 C. Moderate southerly winds gusting 45 km/h.

Saturday, recently formed wind slabs were showing signs of instability and propagation on specific features at treeline as skiers were able to produce large (size 2) slabs while skiing. Several natural wind slabs avalanches(up to size 2) were also reported in the Monashees. 

In the neighbouring region of South Columbia, rider-triggered and natural persistent slabs activity (up to size 3) have been reported in the last few days. 

With the current storm, avalanche activity will likely increase, and a natural cycle is expected late Monday / early Tuesday.

15-25 cm of fresh snow has fallen Sunday throughout the region, with favoured amounts in the Monashees. This new snow is now burying a variety of surfaces including heavily wind-affected surfaces on most alpine slopes, fresh wind slabs on any open features, thin sun crust on steep south-facing slopes at all elevations, and widespread large feathery surface hoar crystal on sheltered areas. Below ~1200 m, 35-55 cm of snow is now overlying a thick melt-freeze crust. 

Two weak layers exist within the upper snowpack: the mid-February layer (down 70 to 120 cm) and the mid-January layer (down 100 cm). They both consist of surface hoar / melt-freeze crust. Although reactivity of these layers had tapered off lately, they should be treated with extra caution with this incoming series of snowfalls as they may produce large, unexpected avalanches.

• Travel in alpine terrain is not recommended.
• Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Good day to make conservative terrain choices.