Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2015 8:15AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.

Peter, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Sunshine and warm temperatures on Tuesday could lead to slightly higher danger ratings in the afternoon. If the snow is getting moist or wet then move to cooler, shadier slopes.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly sunny with clouds developing late in the day. The freezing level is around 2400-2700 m. Ridge winds are light from the SW. Wednesday: Cloudy with a chance of showers or flurries. The freezing level starts near 2500 m and should lower to 2000-2200 m. Winds are light gusting moderate from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of showers or flurries. The freezing level is steady at 2000-2200 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported recently. It may still be possible to trigger old pockets of wind slabs or loose snow sluffs from steep sun-exposed slopes, especially if conditions remain warm and sunny.

Snowpack Summary

Variable snow surface consists of wind-affected snow or wind-scoured crusts in exposed alpine areas, moist snow or sun crust on sun-exposed slopes, or 5-10cm of dry snow overlying an old crust in shady and sheltered areas. At higher elevations, ongoing winds may be continuing to build thin wind slabs in leeward features. Lower elevations are undergoing daily springtime melt-freeze cycles. The most prominent feature in the snowpack is the thick late-February crust, down 5-20 cm. This crust is supportive all the way to ridge crest and is effectively "capping" the snowpack, keeping riders from stressing any deeper weak layers. There are still weak layers below this crust that we'll continue to monitor, but for now these layers are dormant. We would likely need significant warming and/or heavy loading to re-activate them.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Ongoing westerly winds continue to build thin wind slabs in leeward terrain at high elevations. Afternoon sun and warming may increase the sensitivity of triggering these wind slabs.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Loose wet sluffs and cornice collapses remain a concern with continued mild and sunny weather.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2015 2:00PM