Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
New snow and southerly winds will be driving the avalanche danger on Tuesday. Due to limited data it is CRITICAL to supplement this information with your own observations. Please post your observations to the MIN.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Recent rain to mountaintops combined with overnight cooling has reduced the likelihood of triggering this layer. Areas in which the snowpack above this layer remained dry should be treated with increased caution.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use increased caution in areas which did not form a surface crust.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported; however, we currently have very limited observations in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Anywhere from 2-10 cm of snow fell Sunday overnight into Monday, as temperatures dropped by 5-10 degrees (and back to more seasonal values). Ridge top winds were moderate from the west and likely formed wind slabs on lee (easterly) slopes.
This new snow fell on a 2 cm thick melt-feeze crust, which could become a good sliding layer when more snow falls on Tuesday.
The depth of the snowpack varies greatly with elevation. Recent reports suggest the average depth is 100-170cm in the alpine, 50-100cm at treeline, and decreasing rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.
Last week's heavy rain to the mountaintops really shrunk the snowpack and has transitioned much of the snowpack from dry to moist snow. A major feature in the snowpack is a crust which formed at the end of October and may exist approximately 30cm above the ground in some locations. That said, the latest crust (November 27th) will temporarily reduce the likelihood of triggering on this layer.
We currently have very limited snowpack observations within this region and it is critical to supplement this information with your own observations.
Weather Forecast
The next system arrives on Tuesday with modest amounts of snow and more seasonal freezing levels.
TUESDAY: Snow (10-15 cm) during the day with another 5-10 cm possible overnight. Moderate southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.
WEDNESDAY: Clearing throughout the day. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1200 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1000 m.
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New snow on Tuesday will sit on a 2 cm thick melt-freeze crust, which will likely act as a good sliding layer.