Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
New and old wind slabs exist in lee features. Watch for signs of avalanche activity and locally unstable snow, such as whumpfing and shooting cracks.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous wind and storm slabs were triggered by skiers and explosives on Thursday. They were small to large (size 1 to 2), 10 to 30 cm deep, between 1900 and 2100 m, and on all aspects. A cornice also released naturally and did not trigger a slab below.
On Wednesday, a few small slabs (size 1) were triggered by skiers on southerly to easterly slopes between 1600 and 2100 m. They were 30 cm deep in steep and wind-loaded terrain. Sluffing was also noted in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Around 5 to 10 cm of storm snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits in lee features. This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers. Deeper in the snowpack, variable surface hoar, faceted grains, and crusts exists around 30 to 50 cm deep, which are showing to be reactive to human traffic.
Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and in big avalanche paths.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Early-morning snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, then clearing to a mix of sun and clouds, light to moderate northwesterly winds, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level 500 m.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, moderate to strong southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 800 m.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny, light westerly winds, alpine temperature -10 C, freezing level 800 m.
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New snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features. Stiff slabs from last week still exist, which are about 30-50 cm deep and sit on variable weak surfaces. These slabs have been reactive to human triggers.