Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
It appears that we've hit the tipping point, very large avalanches ran nearly full path Wednesday, and this activity will likely persist into Thursday. Don't over-think it, just avoid avalanche terrain, our snowpack needs time to adjust.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Storm slabs in motion will likely step down and produce large destructive avalanches.
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of loading from new snow and wind.
- The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Our complex snowpack is currently producing very large avalanches on deeply buried weak layers. Expert level knowledge and significant experience is required to venture into the backcountry at this time.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday control work produced very large avalanches to size 3.5 on southwest, south and southeast aspects. Natural avalanches ran to size 2.5 on southeast, east and northeast aspects. These avalanches may have started as storm slabs, but quickly stepped down to the mid-December and/or late November weak layers. These very large avalanches are not to be taken lightly and this activity may persist into Thursday.
On Tuesday a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 was reported from all aspects and elevations as the upper snowpack adjusted to a new load and increasingly warm temperatures.
Last Thursday a skier triggered a size 3.0 avalanche just after entering the east face of Evening Ridge near Nelson. The skier survived, but sustained significant injuries. On New Years Eve a skier triggered a size 3.0 avalanche on an east facing treeline feature at Kootenay Pass which resulted in a single fatality. Both of these avalanches are thought to have failed on the late November crust.
Snowpack Summary
40 to 60 cm of recent snow is coalescing into a slab on top of the January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects.
The late December surface hoar remains active and is now down 50 to 70 cm below the surface.
The mid-December surface hoar, facet and crust combination is now down 70 to 130 cm below the surface and remains active. This interface is most pronounced at treeline, but is present below treeline also. The overlying slab is now deep and cohesive.
Two laminated crusts created by twin rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, 80 to 150 cm below the surface. Facets may be found sandwiched between the two crusts and have been observed above the uppermost crust too. In shallow rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall is expected to spread into the BC interior Thursday morning. With cold arctic air preconditioning, a widespread 5 to 15 cm of snow is expected with locally higher amounts throughout the region. A ridge of high pressure and rather warm air should begin to spill into the region Saturday and Sunday.
THURSDAY: Overcast, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate south/southwest wind, 5 to 15 cm of snow expected with potential for up to 25 cm in favored locations.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Overcast, freezing level at valley bottom, light west wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.
FRIDAY: Overcast, freezing level at valley bottom, light west wind, trace of snow possible.
SATURDAY: Scattered cloud, freezing level beginning near valley bottom, rising to 800 m during the day, returning to valley bottom Saturday night. Light west wind, no precipitation expected.
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.
40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a reactive slab that rests on the early January interface. Large natural and human triggered avalanches remain likely as the upper snowpack adjusts to the new load and recent warm temperatures.