Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for this region.
Continued warm temperatures and sunshine are expected to maintain elevated avalanche danger.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Warm temperatures and sunshine are expected to destabilize slopes that face the sun on steep terrain.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Small sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
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. While the weather remains warm, there is still an increased likelihood of triggering something large.
Snowpack Summary
Warm alpine temperatures have made the snow surface moist on slopes that face the sun. Below the surface, 40 to 60 cm of recent snow has settling 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 also remains reactive and is now down 50 to 90 cm below the surface.
Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 60 to 120 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
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with warm air remaining at higher elevations and cold air remaining in the valleys. Freezing level 3000m. Light southeasterly winds.
Tuesday: Cloud increasing. Light rain or snow in the afternoon, 2-4 mm. Freezing level dropping from around 2500m in the morning to around 1800m in the afternoon. Moderate southerly winds.
Wednesday: Light snow, around 5 cm, increasing in the evening. Freezing level around 1400m. Moderate southerly winds.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Kootenay Boundary URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/kootenay-boundary.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Our complex snowpack is currently producing 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.