Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Dogtooth, Esplanade, Glacier, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, West Purcell, Whatshan.
Avalanches are possible in areas where new snow is deeper and affected by the wind.
Avoid areas that show signs of instability like recent avalanches and shooting cracks.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday and Sunday, explosives control work and skier traffic triggered storm slab and loose dry avalanches to size 1.5, averaging 20 to 30 cm deep. These avalanches were all in terrain steeper than 35 degrees, and on northerly aspects in the treeline and alpine.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 30 cm fresh snow accumulated over the weekend and was redistributed by southerly winds in the alpine and open treeline which formed slabs in lee features. This snow covers older snow in most terrain and surface hoar in sheltered locations.
A surface hoar layer is now buried 30 to 70 cm and is most prevalent from 1700 to 2200 m (see this MIN). We're tracking this layer as the load (and resulting slab) builds above it. We may see reactivity increase when the load above reaches a critical threshold. Below 1600 m on solar slopes a crust is at this interface.
There are no deeper layers of concern.
Weather Summary
Monday night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Snow, 15-30 cm. 30 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Partly cloudy. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Investigate for wind-loaded pockets, especially around ridges and open bowls.
A currently unreactive surface hoar layer is buried 30 to 70 cm. We are tracking this layer as reactivity may increase as more snow loads into a slab above.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2