Avalanche forecast

South Okanagan

Feb 28 – 29, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

New snow is expected to arrive with southwest wind making wind slabs the main concern. The best riding will be found in terrain sheltered from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs may remain triggerable to riders. Assess for slabs in lee terrain features prior to committing.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    A weak layer of facets may exist above a hard melt-freeze crust that formed in early February. Humans could trigger this layer, or smaller avalanches could step down and form large avalanches.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully monitor the bond between the new snow and old surface.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We didn't receive any reports of avalanche activity from Sunday or Monday.

Looking forward, it remains possible that riders could trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features at higher elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate southwest wind is expected redistribute new snow falling Tuesday night through Wednesday, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridges. Soft snow may prevail in terrain sheltered from the wind.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried 40 to 60 cm deep. This crust may have a weak layer of facets sitting above it.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Mainly cloudy with 5-10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h west and southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 3-5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 5 - 15 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

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