Avalanche forecast

South Okanagan

Dec 21 – 22, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Practice good travel habits and seek out terrain sheltered from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - 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 storm and wind slab avalanches were reported in the Okanagan on Wednesday and Thursday. Rider-triggered avalanches were small and explosive-triggered slabs were large, size 2 to 3.

While we suspect these slabs are stabilizing, uncertainty remains due to forecast 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 neighbouring 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

Friday Night

Cloudy with up to 1 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow ending in the morning. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow ending in the 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.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.

Regions covered