Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Variable storm slab/ wind slab conditions: make observations continually as you travel.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
An unsettled NW flow brings light snow and cold temperatures. Tonight: trace; Wednesday: 10 cm; Thursday: 5-10 cm; Friday: trace. Winds are generally light. The freezing level stays at the surface. For more details check out https://avalanche.ca/weather.
Avalanche Summary
Skiers triggered numerous loose dry and soft slab avalanches on Sunday in the size 1-2 range. There were also numerous natural loose dry and storm slab avalanches out of steep terrain. On Monday, skier triggering eased, but explosives still produced several size 1-2 storm slabs.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of low density snow now covers various surfaces, including the reactive mid-December surface hoar. This surface hoar can be found on all aspects in protected areas, but does not seem to be widespread across the region. In many areas, the new snow sits on top of a thin rain crust. No matter what the new snow overlies, it has been bonding poorly in most steep terrain. Moderate SW winds recently formed fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and in the alpine. At treeline elevation the early December crust, down around 50-100 cm, is thick and supportive, and may be capping deeper weaknesses. It may also be providing a good sliding surface for the odd larger avalanche.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.