Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
The snow pack is complex and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Be extra cautious if temperatures begin to rise, or rain begins to fall at lower elevations as the next storm system approaches on Wednesday.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Use conservative route selection, choose low angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Watch for new snow and wind to build storm slabs especially on leeward, northerly slopes.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday there were reports of two successive skier accidentals triggered on a northwest aspect between 1980-2000 m. The first was a size 1.5 and the second about thirty minutes later was a size 2. A natural size 2 loose wet avalanche was also report on a soutwest aspect at 2100m, as well as numerous explosive triggered size 2-3.5 slab avalanches running on weak layers deep in the snowpack.
Sunday there were reports of natural loose wet avalanches to size 2.5 on solar aspects as well a size 3 deep-persistent, slab avalanche on a northerly aspect that's suspected to have failed on the December 15th layer.
Very significant avalanche activity occurred in the region last Wednesday and Thursday. A smaller avalanche cycle, mostly affecting the recent storm snow was reported on Saturday. As temperatures warm lower elevations that have so far remained cool during the inversion, there is still an increased likelihood of triggering something large.
Snowpack Summary
Warm alpine temperatures have formed a crust on solar aspects while northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Below the surface, 40 to 60 cm of recent snow has settled into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive 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 layer also remains reactive and is now buried 80 to 90 cm below the surface.
Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar layer which is now 100 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive.
Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. 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
TUESDAY NIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind moderate, southwest. Temperature -5. Freezing level 800 m.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy, snow. Accumulation 10-20 cm. Ridge wind strong, south. Temperature near 0. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy, snow. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind strong, southwest. Temperature near 0. Freezing level 1500 m.
FRIDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, southwest. Temperature -2. Freezing level 1000 m.
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The snowpack is complex and has produced very large and destructive avalanches on up to four separate weak layers buried 50 to 120cm below the surface. Expert level knowledge and experience is required to safely venture into the backcountry.