Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kootenay Boundary, Bonnington, Grohman, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Ymir, Moyie, St. Mary, Kokanee, Valhalla, Crawford.
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