Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Mar 2, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wind slabs continue to be reactive to human triggers, especially on south-southwesterly aspects at treeline and above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs likely exist on all aspects due to changing winds. Southerly slopes and terrain features have been most reactive. Loose dry sluffing may exist on steep slopes and terrain features with the recent snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    It remains possible to trigger an avalanche on one of the surface hoar or crust layers buried 30 to 80 cm deep. These layers are most prominent around treeline elevations.

Confidence

High - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

Heading into March it feels more like January. The strengthening ridge will bring us another fairly long stretch of cold, dry and clear weather.SATURDAY/ SUNDAY/ MONDAY: Mostly sunny with treeline temperatures near -15. Moderate ridgetop wind from the East through the forecast period.

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, dry loose sluffing was seen in steeper terrain features.

Snowpack Summary

An additional 15 cm accompanied by light southwest winds fell in Kootenay Pass and the Nelson area overnight. This adds an additional 20-30 cm of low density snow to the upper snowpack. This new snow may have a poor bond to the previous firm and faceted (sugary) snow surfaces. Old wind slabs from the strong northeast winds earlier this week continue to reactive to human triggers especially on southerly slopes. A buried surface hoar and crust interface that was buried on February 7th is now 30-50 cm deep. Two other surface hoar layers are buried 50 to 80 cm deep the snowpack (referred to as the February 1st and mid-January layers) these buried persistent weak layers remain reactive to human triggers. The snowpack is complex and requires diligence and patience. This MIN report reflects the Kootenay Pass area well. This MIN report reflects the Bonnigton Range.

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