Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 3rd, 2019 4:17PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

The story for the next few days will be the colder weather, however continue to consider the reactivity of recently buried weak layer.

Summary

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY Night: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -17 C.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -12 C.TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -13 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -15 C.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Saturday include several natural size 1.5-2 storm slab avalanches and explosives triggered size 2-2.5 storm slab avalanches on southerly and northerly aspects up to 2200m. Additionally, there were several observations of naturally triggered size 2 wind slab avalanches on northerly aspects in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

10-30 cm of new snow sits on variety of snow surfaces, which may include wind crust in wind exposed areas, a crust on solar aspects to mountain top and weak feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas treeline and below. In some places this surface hoar is reported be sitting on a crust.40-80 cm below the snow surface, expect to find another crust on south aspects and another layer of feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered and shaded areas. This deeper layer of surface hoar may be most reactive at treeline elevations on shady aspects. The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Shifting winds will redistribute last week's new snow onto a variety of aspects.

Stay alert to changing conditions with elevation.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

There is a layer a layer of weak feathery surface hoar 20-40 cm below the surface and another 40-80 cm down. The former is currently reported to be most reactive, especially where it is sitting on a hard crust.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.Caution around sheltered open areas treeline and belowBe aware of the possibility of avalanches triggering on one layer and stepping down to another

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 4th, 2019 2:00PM