Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
• Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Field observations are quite limited. Besides some sluffing in steep terrain, there have been no reports of avalanche activity in recent days, despite the accumulating storm snow.

In neighboring regions to the north of Highway 16 and to the south of Kinbasket, large (size 2+) wind slabs have been observed on north to east aspects at upper elevations, triggered both naturally and artificially.

Ongoing flurries continue to add to 35 to 70 cm of recent storm snow sitting over a prominent crust, formed in mid-December, that extends up to 2200 m. Wind has redistributed this storm snow over the crust and in exposed terrain.

Where the crust is thick and supportive, it effectively caps a few of the mid-snowpack instabilities, making them difficult to trigger. These include a spotty surface hoar layer and a crust/facet layer from mid-November. These layers may still be a concern in the high alpine, where the crust is thin or nonexistent.

Snowpack depth is around 150 cm at treeline, tapering with elevation below 1500 m.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow in most areas, 20+cm in high terrain in the Premier Range. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday
A mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.