Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, Kokanee, North Columbia, North Okanagan, North Selkirk, Retallack, Shuswap, South Columbia, Valhalla, Whatshan.
It will likely still be warm with a mix of sun and cloud on Thursday. If the sun stays out for an extended time think about an increase in the likelihood of loose wet avalanches running in steep terrain facing the sun.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports include a few wet loose avalanches to size 1.5 and 2 in the alpine on solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
There is likely a thin crust on steep slopes facing the sun right up into the alpine. Any recent new snow has been redistributed by northeast winds. On high north-facing terrain wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.
The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story. The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. This layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clear with cloudy periods. Light northeast wind. High of -8 °C at treeline. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. Light northeast wind. High of 1 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1900m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries. Light to moderate southwest wind. High of -3 °C at treeline. Freezing level 1500m.
Saturday
Cloudy with flurries. Moderate southwest wind. High of -4 °C at treeline. Freezing level at 1300m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
Avalanche Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2.5 - 3.5