Kootenay Boundary

Avalanche size and likelihood will increase throughout the day with continued snowfall.

Numerous storm and wind slab avalanches were reported over the weekend, mostly sized 1 to 2.

Check out this MIN report that details a size 2.5 skier-triggered avalanche near Whitewater Resort on Saturday.

In the past week, as much as 50 cm of snow has accumulated in areas. This new snow has buried a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar on north-facing slopes and a sun crust on south-facing slopes.

The middle of the snowpack contains a series of crusts with the potential of small facetted crystals above.

A thick crust deep in the snowpack largely protects any weak layers further down in the snowpack from being triggered.

Monday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud with up to 10 cm of snow by the morning and a trace amount through the day, west alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with 2 to 8 cm of snow, southwest alpine winds 10 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• It's critical to stay disciplined and choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.