Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 19th, 2013 10:05AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

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Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Heavy snow (20- 35 cm). Strong SW winds. Alpine temperature near -3.Thursday: Light snow. Light SW winds. Alpine temperature near -13.Friday: Light snow. Light winds. Alpine temperature near -12.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-2 avalanches have been triggered naturally, by skiers, explosives and vehicles over the last couple of days. In most cases, the new snow was failing on the hard crust below. Many were soft slabs where the wind had shifted the snow onto lee slopes, and several were loose dry avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Snow and wind forecast for Wednesday are expected to add to recent storm slabs, which overlie a hard supportive crust. On solar aspects, the new snow may land on a thin sun crust which formed in some areas over the last couple of days. Strong winds are likely to build touchy slabs on lee slopes. Cornices are large and fragile.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
New storm slabs are likely to develop during Wednesday’s storm. Lee loaded slopes may be particularly touchy. A buried crust may provide an easy sliding surface for avalanches.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>Avoid steep slopes below cornices.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Mar 20th, 2013 2:00PM

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