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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2025–Mar 2nd, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Warm temperatures and sun will weaken the snowpack, making weak layers easier to trigger.

Use extra caution during the warmest parts of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Earlier this week, explosive control in different parts of the region produced several small to large (up to size 2) avalanches in east and southeast-facing alpine and treeline terrain. Some were small wind slabs but the larger avalanches failed on a persistent weak layer of facets over a crust up to 60 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

A melt-freeze crust or moist snow likely makes up the surface on all but high-elevation north aspects. High overnight freezing levels mean crust recovery may be weak. This overlies 30 to 60 cm of recent storm snow that sits over a crust in many areas or surface hoar / facets in some wind-sheltered areas. A weak layer buried in late January consisting of surface hoar and facets or a crust, is buried 50 to 90 cm and remains a lingering concern. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mostly clear with some valley cloud. 5 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. with an alpine temperature inversion. Freezing level 2500 m.

Sunday

Increasing cloud cover, lingering valley cloud. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with an alpine temperature inversion. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 5 to 15 hm/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 hm/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Triggering deep layers is more likely if the snow surface didn't freeze overnight.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.