Avalanche Forecast
Kootenay Boundary
Wind stiffened storm slabs are expected to be problematic at upper elevations Monday. 30 to 50 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that may also be sensitive to human triggering.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Start with simple terrain and gather information before committing to bigger features.
- Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
- If triggered, storm slabs may step down to deeper layers, resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday and Saturday storm slabs were triggered by skiers and explosives at treeline and alpine elevations, 10 to 25 cm deep. Natural and skier-triggered sluffing was also widely reported.
Snowpack Summary
Two successive storms over the weekend produced 10 to 30 cm of new snow accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. 30 to 50 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that includes facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.
Deeper in the snowpack, weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1 to 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 big avalanche paths.
Weather Forecast
The work week kicks off with a rather disorganized pattern that is not expected to generate any significant snowfall, but a change may be in store as a vigorous low tracks within striking distance of the Kootenay Boundary Wednesday night.
MONDAY: A few clouds, freezing level around 800 m, light northwest wind, no significant snowfall expected.
TUESDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level around 1000 m, moderate to strong west wind, trace of snow possible.
WEDNESDAY: A few clouds in the morning building to overcast in the afternoon, freezing level around 1000 m, potentially strong south/southwest wind, copious amounts of precipitation possible, but the latest model run shows about 15 cm of snow Wednesday night. Stay tuned for more details.
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10 to 30 cm of new snow from the weekend has been formed into wind stiffened storm slabs that are expected to be widespread. 30 to 50 cm of snow now rests on a variable weak layer buried in mid-February that may remain sensitive to human triggering.