Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

SUNDAY NIGHT: A low pressure system passing across the border will result in 10-20 cm of low density snow in southern parts of the region and 5-10 cm in northern parts, moderate wind from various directions, alpine temperatures drop to -20 C.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries in southern parts of the region, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -18 C.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -18 C.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -18 C.

Ongoing accumulations of low density snow over the weekend resulted in a mix of storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches. They were typically small (size 1), although some larger (size 2) natural and explosive triggered avalanches were reported. Over the past week there have been a few reports of larger (size 2-3) naturally-triggered persistent slab avalanches. Most of these have been in the Selkirk Range in alpine terrain and on all aspects.

Low density snow continues to accumulate, with 30-60 cm of fresh light snow on the surface. Cold temperatures and light wind should preserve this snow with the exception of some higher elevation terrain where wind slabs could exist. A thin crust exists in many areas 50-100 cm below the surface, and beneath that is a layer of surface hoar. This layer is roughly 80-120 cm deep in the Selkirks and 120-150 cm deep in the Monashees. A facet/crust layer from late November lingers near the bottom of the snowpack. Both of these persistent weak layers have been culprits in large avalanches over the past two weeks.

• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.