Heightened avalanche conditions exist in areas where new snow is overlying buried weak layers.
Evaluate slopes individually before committing to the terrain.
Persistent slabs may be triggerable in areas where winds have formed a slab above a layer of facets overlying a crust. Avalanches on this layer could propagate wider and run farther than expected.
Storm slabs are likely to be more reactive on lee north and east facing terrain if recent wind effect is present
On Tuesday several small skier-controlled avalanches were reported near Castlegar.
The new storm snow may be reactive to rider triggering for a few more days.
5 to 17 cm of recently fallen snow overlies previous wind wind-affected, or crusty surfaces.
Around Nelson, Kootenay Pass, and in the Valhallas, small surface hoar may be buried 15-25 cm below the snow surface.
A persistent weak layer of facets may be overlying a thick crust buried 30 to 50 cm.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled, with snowpack depths decreasing rapidly below 1000 m.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm, 20 km/h south ridgetop wind, treeline temperature around -2 °C, freezing level dropping to 700 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with a 0 to 2 cm, 15 km/h west ridgetop wind, treeline temperature around 2 °C, freezing level rising to 1700 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 4 cm of snow, 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, treeline temperature around 2 °C, freezing level rising to 1700 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow, 25 km/h west ridgetop wind, treeline temperature around 1 °C, freezing level rising to 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
