Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Sun and warming will increase the likelihood of avalanches. Both loose wet and storm slab avalanches could be triggered naturally or by humans. Be particularly cautious on south slopes when it is sunny and avoid overhead exposure.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Sunny with afternoon clouds, light southeast winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1700 m.THURSDAY: Sunny, light southwest winds, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2200 m.FRIDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, light southwest winds, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 2200 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, loose wet avalanches were triggered naturally and by explosives. They were large (size 2 to 2.5) and on all aspects between 1700 m and 2100 m.
Snowpack Summary
An additional 15 to 25 cm of snow fell on Tuesday, for storm snow totals of 30 to 50 cm since Monday morning. The snow fell on a melt-freeze crust produced from rain and warm temperatures on Sunday. Numerous other melt-freeze crusts exist in the upper snowpack from rain, sun, and warming during the spring season. The snowpack below this is generally well-settled and strong.At lower elevations below treeline, a spring snowpack exists.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.