Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
Rising freezing levels and sunny periods will weaken the snow surface and increase the likelihood of triggering avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Observe for the bond of new snow with the old surface before committing into avalanche terrain.
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, cracking, or moist/ wet surface snow.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Be cautious if you find moist or wet snow. Watch out in steep and gullied terrain, where even small avalanches can have severe consequences.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm or the solar radiation is strong.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, reports indicated loose wet avalanche activity from steep slopes and terrain features at treeline. With rising freezing levels and some sunny periods on Wednesday the avalanche hazard may rise and natural avalanche activity may occur.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new snow is sitting on previous moist snow surfaces. Recent winds from the southeast and southwest have sifted the new snow, forming isolated wind slabs in leeward terrain features and slopes. With freezing levels rising, surface snow will likely become moist through the day. Up to 40 cm of snow that fell last weekend overlies melt-freeze crusts that formed over the past few weeks.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Trace of new snow overnight on Tuesday. Cloudy with sunny periods and freezing levels rising to 1800 m. Ridgetop winds light from the West.
Thursday: New snow 5-10 cm accompanied by gusty winds from the East. Freezing levels dropping to 1000 m.
Friday: Yet another blast of winter at higher elevations! Up to 20 cm of new snow. Ridgetop winds light from the West and freezing levels 1600 m.
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As temperatures rise through the day, storm slabs that formed over the weekend may weaken. Natural and human triggering will become more likely because of this. Isolated pockets of wind slab may exist behind ridgelines.