Avalanche Forecast

The number of reports continues to decrease, however, large rider, natural and explosives-triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported throughout the region. Some avalanches have run full path to the valley bottom. Many human-triggered avalanches have been remotely triggered (from a distance).

Last Sunday a fatal avalanche incident occurred north of Revelstoke. It was size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 2000 m. View the report.

sun crust on south and west facing slopes and a layer of surface hoar in sheltered terrain.

50 to 120 cm overlies a variety of potential weak layers, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 160 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of weak facets above it.

Saturday Night

A mix of cloud and clear skies with around 5 cm of new snow. 25 to 40 km/h south alpine wind.  Treeline temperature -7°C.

Sunday

Increasing cloud with up to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -2°C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h south alpine wind. Treeline temperature -2°C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of  new snow. 15 to 30 km/h south alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
• Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
• Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.