Avalanche forecast

South Okanagan

Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2025Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

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

Use extra caution during the warmest parts of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent southwesterly winds built wind slabs on leeward northerly and easterly slopes. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    A weak layer of consisting of a crust and/or facets is buried 30 to 60 cm. Recent avalanches on this layer indicate it remains poorly bonded.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wet loose avalanches will become more likely as daytime warming and sun melt the upper snowpack.

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.

Regions covered