Avalanche Forecast

We've received many reports of widely propagating natural and human-triggered avalanches over the past few days, including remote-triggers. They were mostly 50 cm deep and found at all elevation bands, failing on the buried surface hoar described in the Snowpack Summary.

Human-triggered avalanches remain likely as stormy conditions continue to form slabs and load the buried weak layer.

Up to 70 cm of snow has fallen since Friday. The snow is falling with strong southwest wind, forming deeper deposits in leeward terrain features.

Wide avalanches can be remotely triggered on a preserved layer of surface hoar that may be found in openings around treeline. This layer is 60 to 90 cm deep, This layer appears to be widespread south of Highway 16 and spottier north of the highway.

Below this is a hard melt-freeze crust from mid-November.

The snowpack is around 100 to 150 cm deep at treeline and decreases rapidly at lower elevations.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
• Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.