Kootenay Boundary

If there is a thick surface crust, avalanches are unlikely. Wind slabs may be triggered by riders at high elevations.

On Thursday there was a large natural cornice failure on a northwest aspect in the alpine as well as numerous small wet loose avalanches

On Wednesday, there were two large wet loose avalanches (size 3) north of Kaslo on a west aspect in the alpine and at treeline.

Avalanches are unlikely when a thick crust is present.

A thick surface crust is expected. The thicker it is, the less likely avalanches are. Alpine slopes that didn't see the sun may not have a crust and still hold around 20 cm of soft snow from earlier in the week. Low elevations are melting out and becoming wet. There are layers of weak crystals buried in January, February, and March that can be found in the mid and lower snowpack, but there hasn't been recent avalanche activity on these layers.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
• Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.