Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 5th, 2014–Mar 6th, 2014

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Kootenay Boundary.

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

The second in a pair of  frontal systems will cross the region Wednesday night or early Thursday.  There is some uncertainty with the forecast freezing levels which may be lower than those listed below.Tonight and Thursday: Periods of snow (up to 20cm) / Winds: moderate southwesterly gusting to strong / Freezing level: 1500mFriday: Flurries / Winds: moderate southwesterly / Freezing level: 1300mSaturday: Flurries / Winds: moderate southwesterly / Freezing level: 2000m

Avalanche Summary

The storm slab has become increasing reactive producing avalanches up to size 2.Avalanche activity on the mid pack's persistent weak layer has decreased recently indicating that it is has become harder to trigger. However the few avalanches that have released on this layer have been large and destructive avalanches. Some have been triggered remotely.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50cm of new storm snow sits on top of a variety of old surfaces. A layer of facets can be found on north aspects with a sun crust on many south facing slopes. In sheltered and shaded features surface hoar can be found. Warming temperatures are causing this new snow to settle into a widespread soft slab. Sustained SW winds have have formed winds slabs in lee features.The midpack is broken by a widespread persistent weak layer buried mid February and now down 90 to 120cm. The form of this week layer varies from surface hoar to a sun crust and/or facets.  It can be found at all elevations, on all aspects and is still a concern.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.