Kootenay Boundary

Snowpack information is limited from this region. If you're out in the snow, please send us observations at [email protected]

Fair - The weather pattern is stable

Synopsis: The Arctic ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate the weather pattern through the weekend. Mainly sunny skies and cold temperatures are forecast. Alpine temperatures should hover between -15 to -20. Winds are generally light to moderate from the north, with stronger winds forecast for Sunday.

No reports of natural avalanches releasing after the storm. Storm slab avalanches may continue to be triggered by light additional loads like skiing/riding. Storm slab avalanches that are released may be large and destructive. This storm needs some time to settle and bond, forecast cold temperatures may preserve recently buried weak layers and require more time to settle and bond than when the post storm temperatures are warm. This is a complex avalanche forecasting scenario; complicated by early season timing when we have few observations coming from the field.

A dusting of new snow covers 40-70 cm of previous storm snow. Storm slabs are sitting above recently buried weak layers of surface hoar on North aspects and melt/freeze crusts on solar aspects. In some parts of the region, the storm slab may not be well consolidated and may not result in shears from snow-pit tests. Widespread whumpfing was observed near Nelson from treeline elevations all the way to valley bottom. There are some reports of a deeply buried early season crust that formed in October, this layer is more likely to be found in the high alpine on northerly aspects.Surface facetting continues and new surface hoar growth is likely in some areas. This will be something to watch when the weather pattern finally changes.