Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.
Pay attention to the wind. If it picks up, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days but observations in this region are limited.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you see by submitting a MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
Expect to find 20 to 40 cm of settling snow in sheltered areas and pockets of wind slabs in exposed areas at upper elevations. On sun-affected slopes, soft snow covers a melt-freeze crust.
A layer buried in early December is 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer varies, in the north of the region in sheltered spots it's surface hoar while in the south it's typically a crust.
The lower snowpack is strong and settled south of Highway 1, and potentially weaker and more faceted north of Highway 1.
The snowpack is 100-150 cm deep at treeline.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly cloud with up to 2 cm of new snow. 5 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of new snow. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
There is a lot of loose snow available for transport. If the wind picks up, expect reactive wind slabs to form rapidly in lee areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2