Avalanche forecast

South Okanagan

Dec 20 – 21, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Recent storm snow still needs time to stabilize. Carefully assess steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Storm slabs are 30 to 40 cm thick, and thicker on wind-loaded slopes. There is uncertainty about their reactivity.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous slab avalanches were reported in the Okanagan on Wednesday, including a size 1 natural wind slab in alpine terrain and several size 1 human-triggered storm slabs. Explosives triggered a few size 2.5 storm slabs that ran on crusts beneath the storm snow.

While we suspect these slabs are stabilizing, uncertainty remains due to forecasted snow and wind, as well as limited information about the snowpack across the region.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine terrain is heavily wind-affected, while sheltered areas have 30 to 40 cm of settling snow from Wednesday's storm.

A mix of rain and sun crusts is present beneath the recent snow, with reports of isolated surface hoar at these depths in neighboring regions. Limited observations suggest good bonding, but uncertainty remains about how these layers may affect storm slab reactivity.

Treeline snow depths in the Okanagan region average 100 cm.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow (heavier amounts in the South Okanagan). 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with up to 1 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow overnight by Sunday morning. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.

Regions covered