Kootenay Boundary

Light snowfall and moderate wind should continue to develop pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain at higher elevations.

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations on Saturday

Light snowfall is expected Saturday overnight and most of Sunday. Models are currently showing around 5-15cm of snowfall by the end of the storm. On Sunday, treeline temperatures are expected to be around -10C and alpine winds are forecast to be moderate from southwest in the morning switching to northwest in the afternoon. On Monday, dry conditions are expected with a mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperatures are expected to be around -15C and alpine winds should be light to moderate from the northwest. Sunny, dry, and cold conditions are currently expected for Tuesday.

On Friday, ski cutting was producing size 1 loose avalanches in wind loaded terrain features. Continued snowfall on Sunday with moderate winds from a variety of aspects means reactive wind slabs have the potential to form on any aspects in wind exposed terrain.

Light snowfall with moderate winds are burying cold and loose surface snow. Surface hoar growing up to 15mm in size was reported this week, and widespread faceting has occurred in the top 25cm of low density snow. Expect new snow to bond poorly with this interface, especially in deeper wind-loaded pockets. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November can be found 50-100cm deep. Cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust, which could possibly make the layer reactive in shallow rocky start zones. Snowpack depths are 130-160cm at treeline, and significantly less below treeline.