Kootenay Boundary

Forecast stormy weather is expected to keep avalanche danger elevated over the next few days.

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday

Overnight: 3-5 cm of new snow above 1000 metres combined with light southwest winds. Tuesday: 3-5 cm of new snow with moderate southwest winds, and daytime freezing levels around 1600 metres. Wednesday: 5-10 cm of new snow combined with moderate southwest winds, and daytime freezing levels around 1600 metres. Thursday: Light winds with a chance of flurries in the morning and some clearing in the afternoon, daytime freezing levels near 2000 metres.

Loose wet avalanches were reported from the Kootenay Pass area on Monday up to size 1.5 on all aspects from 1600 -2000 metres elevation.

Stormy weather over the past week brought roughly 40-50 cm of snow to the region. Periodic high freezing levels and solar exposure over the same period formed a series of crusts (March 19-24) that exist within this upper snowpack at lower elevations and on solar aspects. The new snow and series of crusts lie over a more widespread (March 14) rain crust that exists at all elevations. Moist or wet snow exists below this rain crust. The late-February facet / surface hoar interface (90-140 cm deep), the mid-February crust (110-150 cm deep), and basal facets in shallow snowpack areas may still be present at upper elevations. Overlying crusts have been noted acting as a bridge over these layers and any remaining reactivity is likely limited to high alpine locations.