Avalanche Forecast
Regions: North Okanagan, Shuswap, South Okanagan.
⚠️ Avoid All avalanche terrain ⚠️Very warm temperatures and strong solar radiation will likely produce very large natural and human triggered avalanches.
Check out our latest blog.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
One naturally triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a north aspect at treeline and a natural size 2 wet loose avalanche on a south aspect in the alpine were reported on Sunday.
A skier triggered large persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect in the alpine was reported on Saturday. See MIN.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no overnight re-freeze of the snow surface. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
A widespread, hard crust down 40 - 130 cm with weak facets above continues to be the primary layer of concern for natural and human triggering of very large persistent slab avalanches.
Cornices have become large and looming, and are more likely to fail during periods of warming.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets overtop is down 40 to 130 cm. Large natural and human triggered avalanches occurring on this layer are very likely on Tuesday.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
Cornices are large, looming and will likely trigger very large persistent slab avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3