About North Okanagan

This page shows the current backcountry snow report, avalanche forecast, and weather conditions for North Okanagan. Check the danger rating, field observations, and Doctor's Orders summary above before heading out.

The North Okanagan region spans the mountain terrain rising from the Okanagan and Shuswap lake systems toward the Monashee Mountains, covering the higher terrain accessible from Vernon and Kelowna toward the Mabel Lake corridor. SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon sits within this region and provides the primary lift-accessed entry point into the high alpine. This region represents the transition between the dry Okanagan interior and the wetter Columbia Mountains to the east, with moderate-elevation terrain defined by open, parkland-style subalpine environment and the gradual increase in glaciation and snowpack depth toward the western Monashee flank. Highway 97 and a network of forest service roads form the primary access network from Vernon and Kelowna. Snow conditions in the North Okanagan region are shaped by the rain shadow of the Cascade-Monashee barrier to the west, resulting in a snowpack that is considerably lighter and more interior in character than regions deeper in the Columbia wet belt. Annual snowfall totals are moderate, and the snowpack can be shallow enough on lower terrain to create significant ground cover issues and elevated terrain-feature hazard. Persistent weak layers formed during the frequent clear, cold interior winters are a major concern, with depth hoar development on south and west aspects common in early and mid-winter. The region is best approached with a conservative mindset regarding snowpack stability, particularly during transitions between clear cold spells and new loading.

Terrain within this zone includes: SilverStar Mountain Resort, Vernon, Kelowna, Mabel Lake, Okanagan Highlands.