Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Continue to use caution due to the weak layer buried in the snowpack and effects from recent wind transportation.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, freezing level below valley bottom.MONDAY: Clear skies with afternoon clouds, light northwest winds, alpine temperature -7 C, freezing level below valley bottom.TUESDAY: Clear skies, light west winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level below valley bottom.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light west winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level below valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
Small wet loose avalanches were observed on southerly aspects on Saturday. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface was recently impacted by strong northwest winds, the sun, and warm air temperatures. Expect to find wind slabs in lee terrain features due to the winds. On southerly aspects, a melt-freeze crust may be found to the mountain top. At lower elevations, a melt-freeze crust may be found on all aspects.Below the snow surface, a widespread crust exists about 10 to 20 cm deep. At a depth of around 20 to 40 cm, expect to find yet another crust on south aspects and feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered and shaded areas. The surface hoar may be most pronounced at treeline elevations in sheltered and shaded locations.The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.
Problems
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.