Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Jordan, Kokanee, North Columbia, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, Valhalla, West Purcell, Whatshan.
Cold and calm conditions have preserved loose, soft snow conditions in many areas. Avalanches remain most likely in areas where surface snow is cohesive, likely due to wind or sun.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Since the weekend, several small skier-triggered avalanches (size 1 to 1.5) were reported across the region. These avalanches likely occurred on weak layers of facets and/or sun crusts roughly 20 to 40 cm below the surface.
On Wednesday a size 2.5 avalanche was remotely triggered by a helicopter landing at ridgetop. The avalanche started in a steep shallow start zone on an east aspect around the treeline, failing on a weak layer roughly 100 cm below the surface.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack continues to facet with ongoing cold, clear, and dry conditions, preserving generally soft surface conditions. Variable wind-affected surfaces can be found in exposed terrain at treeline and above.
Various layers buried at the end of January are approximately 20 to 50 cm below the surface. These include sun crusts on sun-affected slopes, surface hoar in shaded terrain at treeline and below, and weak faceted grains elsewhere.
The snowpack remains faceted and weak in places just below these layers following the dry January conditions.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Friday
Partly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatrure -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
- Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer buried at the end of January, 20 to 50 cm deep, is most concerning where cohesive slabs have formed above, such as wind slabs or sun-exposed slopes where the solar effect has settled the upper snowpack despite cold temperatures.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5