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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 27th, 2025–Feb 28th, 2025

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Okanagan, Shuswap, North Okanagan.

Warm temperatures and sun may weaken the snowpack, making weak layers easier to trigger.

Use extra caution during the warmest parts of the day.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Wednesday: Explosive control east of Penticton produced several avalanches sized 1 to 2. Some were small wind slabs but the larger avalanches failed on a persistent weak layer of facets over a crust up to 60 cm deep.

Tuesday & Monday: Explosive control in different parts of the region produced several small to large (up to size 2) avalanches in east and southeast facing alpine and treeline terrain. They all failed on a layer of facets or crust buried by the recent storm.

Snowpack Summary

A surface crust or moist snow may be found at lower elevations and on sun-affected slopes. Otherwise, 30 to 60 cm of accumulated settling storm snow sits over a crust in many areas or surface hoar / facets in some wind-sheltered areas. The highest storm snow amounts fell in southern parts of the region, and the lowest in the north. A weak layer buried in late January consisting of surface hoar and facets or a crust, is buried 50 to 90 cm and remains a lingering concern. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and strong.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature low -2 °C. Below freezing air in the valleys, alpine freezing level around 2300 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy, then sunny in the afternoon. 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level around 2200 m.

Saturday

Sunny. 15 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +4 °C. Freezing level around 2900 m.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +3 °C. Freezing level around 2200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Start with simple terrain and gather information before committing to bigger features.
  • The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.