Kootenay Boundary

Wind slabs in exposed areas and buried surface hoar in sheltered areas. Back off into simple terrain if you encounter signs of instability, like cracking or whumpfing.

Moderate - Track of incoming weather systems is uncertain

A series of frontal systems is expected over the next three days, bringing light to moderate snow and moderate to strong SW ridge top winds. The freezing level stays near 800 m. Late on Wednesday an arctic ridge starts to build. Snowfall in the south (less in the north): Monday 5-10cm; Tuesday 10 cm; Wednesday 2-5 cm.

No new avalanches have been reported.

Up to 35 cm of new snow now covers the mid-December surface hoar. This surface hoar can be found on all aspects in protected areas. It is variably reactive, showing propagation likelihood around Kootenay Pass. It may become quite touchy as soon as a slab develops above it. Moderate winds out of the S/SW have recently formed fresh wind slabs on lee features. A few different crusts can be found in the upper meter of the snowpack as high as 2400m. At treeline elevation the early December crust, down 30-70 cm, is thick and supportive, and may be capping deeper weaknesses. Check out the latest conditions video at: https://bit.ly/1S2DbYb