Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Esplanade, Goat, Gold, Jordan, North Columbia, North Selkirk, Retallack, South Columbia, West Purcell, Whatshan.
Human triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported in the region. Stick to low consequence terrain. Check out our Forecaster's Blog on recent avalanche activity.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
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.
Snowpack Summary
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.
Weather Summary
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.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- 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.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of faceted grains above a crust buried 70 to 140 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. Remote triggering is an ongoing concern and means the layer is still primed for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 4
Wind Slabs
southerly winds and new snow will likely form wind slab. If triggered, wind slabs could step down to deeper layers.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2