Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
Lookout for small wind slabs sitting on a hard crust in wind affected terrain at treeline and above. Due to limited data it is CRITICAL to supplement this information with your own observations. Please post your observations to the MIN.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid areas which have been loaded by new snow and wind.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Recent rain to mountaintops combined with overnight cooling Thursday night has reduced the likelihood of triggering this layer. Areas in which the snowpack above this layer remained dry should be treated with increased caution.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Use increased caution in areas which did not form a surface crust.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, no new avalanches were reported in this region. However, we currently have very limited observations in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
A new crust was formed on Thursday as temperatures cooled and the rain soaked snow surface froze and then was covered by 5-10cm of snow at treeline and above. The depth of the snowpack varies greatly with elevation. Recent reports suggest the average depth is 100+cm in the alpine, 50-100cm at treeline, and decreasing rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks. Recent heavy rain to the mountaintops has rapidly shrunk the snowpack and has transitioned much of the snowpack from dry to moist snow. The major feature in the snowpack is a crust which was formed at the end of October can be found approximately 30cm above the ground. However, the new surface crust will temporarily reduce the likelihood of triggering on this layer. We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy / Light southerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 1500 m
SUNDAY: 10-20 mm rain / Moderate to strong southwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 2500 m
MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level around 1500 m
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Kootenay Boundary URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/kootenay-boundary.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Fresh wind slabs may have formed below ridgetops in areas where the precipitation fell as snow on Thursday afternoon.