Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
Cooling temperatures are reducing the likelihood of triggering large persistent slab avalanches.
Avoid steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin-to-thick snowpack.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
0 to 5 cm of new snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 40-60 cm in isolated, sheltered areas.
A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-200 cm deep. Both of these layers remain primary concerns for triggering large persistent slab avalanches.
Weather Summary
Thursday night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is buried 80 to 200 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3