Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
Recent storm snow totals now range from 40-60 cm. This new snow overlies a variety of old surfaces; including crusts and surface hoar, and has proven to be easily triggered by skiers. Conservative terrain choices are the key for a few more days.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with no consequence.
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.
- Caution on open slopes and convex rolls below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, several natural and skier controlled storm slab avalanches to Size 1.5 were observed on a wide variety of aspects and elevations, while explosive control produced numerous storm slab avalanches to Size 2.5-3 on southeast to southwest aspects in Kootenay Pass.
On Monday, numerous storm slabs up to Size 2 were reported in the Nelson area: They were either easily triggered by skiers or ran naturally.
Also on Monday, several classic signs of instability (whumpfing, shooting cracks, easy sudden results in snowpack tests) were reported near Nelson. See here for the great MIN report.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday's storm delivered another 20-30 cm of snow to the region, accompanied by moderate to strong, easterly winds. Bringing the storm total to 40-60 cm for the Nelson area and parts further south.
All this new snow has fallen on a variety of old snow surfaces (December 15th layer), depending on aspect and elevation. On solar aspects a thin melt-freeze crust has been buried. On northerly aspects, feathery, surface hoar crystals (10-60 mm in length) have been buried below treeline as well as protected areas at treeline. In the alpine the old surface consisted of sugary snow (facets) and hard, wind scoured snow. The December 15th layer now buried 30-50 cm has produced easy to moderate, resistant results in recent snowpack tests. Below the crust layer the lower snowpack is well settled.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate from the southwest. Temperature -8. Freezing level surface.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light from the northeast. Temperature -8. Freezing level surface.
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the northwest. Temperature -12. Freezing level surface.
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.
Recent storm snow and wind have created widespread, soft slabs above the December 15th crust/surface hoar layer. Expect these slabs to be easily triggered by light loads such as a skier or rider.