Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
It is a good time to be traveling in the mountains, but remember that low danger does not mean no danger. Loose wet avalanche activity should be limited Wednesday, but stubborn old wind slabs and large cornices demand our respect.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and in extreme terrain.
Avalanche Summary
No significant avalanche activity to report from Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
Avalanche activity on Friday was limited to snowballing on solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
A crust has formed on all solar aspects. Fresh surface hoar has begun to form on polar aspects (those that face north and east) near ridgetop.
About 5 cm of snow is between the surface and another interface that mirrors the surface; crust on solar, surface hoar on high elevation north.
Snow that fell March 8th/9th was redistributed by west/southwest wind, forming wind slabs at high elevations. These wind slabs rest on a layer of surface surface hoar about 25 to 40 cm below the surface which has not been recently reactive.
A mix of weak layers exist 50 to 100 cm below the surface, including small surface hoar on shady aspects and a crust on solar aspects. These layers are expected to have gained strength from recent cycles of warming and cooling. Like other deeper weak layers that formed in January and December, they are considered dormant at this time. These deeper layers include several surface hoar and facet layers 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday looks to be the last day of rather vanilla weather before a significant change Thursday. The pattern is incredibly dynamic as we move towards the weekend, this is a great time to check out our Mountain Weather Forecast (link below) if you are curious. Suffice to say that Wednesday does not offer much change, but then significant rain/snow and plenty of wind is in store at least through Friday.
WEDNESDAY: Scattered cloud cover initially building to overcast in the afternoon, freezing level beginning near 600 m rising to as high as 1900 m in the afternoon, moderate southerly wind, trace of precipitation during the day, 1 to 4 mm of precipitation possible Wednesday night.
THURSDAY: Overcast, freezing level beginning around 1500 m rising to 2100 m, strong south/southeast wind, 5 to 10 mm of precipitation possible during the day with another 5 to 10 mm possible Thursday night.
FRIDAY: Scattered cloud cover initially, increasing cloud cover in the afternoon, freezing level beginning at 700 m rising to 1400 m, 1 to 5 mm of precipitation possible.
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It is a good time to be traveling in the mountains. Increased cloud cover should put the brakes on loose wet activity. Use normal caution and be aware that small wind slabs near ridge crest may be sensitive to human triggering.