Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Some avalanche risk remains in the backcountry at this time. Pay particular attention to wind loaded slopes and slopes that are being impacted by the sun.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Around 5 cm new snow expected.WEDNESDAY: Dry with periods of sun. Freezing level around 1300 m. Winds light northwesterly.THURSDAY: Dry and mostly cloudy. Freezing level around 1300 m. Winds light southwesterly.FRIDAY: Dry with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level rising to around 1500 m. Winds light southwesterly.
Avalanche Summary
A few small loose dry avalanches were reported over the weekend and into Monday. One large (size 3) slab avalanche was triggered remotely on a southwest aspect on Sunday. The avalanche failed on a crust layer 20-30 cm deep, but showed surprisingly wide propagation.
Snowpack Summary
Additional snow amounts of around 15 cm Monday night has brought storm snow totals to approximately 40 cm in this region. This storm snow is resting on a variety of surfaces, including crusts on southern aspects, hard wind-affected snow in exposed locations and soft faceted snow in sheltered areas. Two layers of weak surface hoar crystals are buried in the snowpack between 45 and 80 cm deep, which were buried in mid-February and early-February. The layers may be associated with a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. Avalanche activity on these layers has tapered, but it may still be possible to trigger one of these layers in isolated areas such as steep cutblocks and large open glades.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.