Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Goat, Kokanee, Retallack, Valhalla.
Large human triggered avalanches are possible.
Evidence of a persistent weak layer may be hard to find. Avoiding steep, shallow terrain is the best way to avoid this avalanche problem.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Monday and Tuesday, avalanche reports were mostly limited to small, loose dry avalanches on slopes in the sun.
However, there was one report on Monday of a large avalanche remotely triggered by humans in steep, north facing treeline terrain, northwest of Kaslo. It is suspected that it failed on the early December persistent weak layer.
Snowpack Summary
expect to find 15 to 25 cm of soft snow on the surface. In specific places you may find a thin crust, or small wind slabs. Below the recent snow, there are potentially a couple different layers of large (up to 25 mm), feathery surface hoar crystals 15-35 cm deep. They may be resting on a crust on slopes that face the sun.
A widespread surface hoar/facet/crust layer is buried 70 to 120 cm. This layer is trending to unreactive. It was most recently active on north through east-facing slopes between 1700 and 2300 m.
At treeline, snow depths range from 135 to 200 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Possible temperature inversion in the afternoon. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Temperature inversion breaking down. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to a buried crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Isolated wind slabs may still be found in the alpine.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
The early December weak layer is showing signs of strengthening, but it's not fully bonded. It's most likely to be a problem south of Trout Lake and West of Slocan Lake. The most concerning elevations and aspects vary across the region.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5