Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
If you're skiing or riding in the northern part of the region (e.g. Kokanee Glacier) make sure you check out the South Columbia forecast. It's a little trickier to the north where more recent snow accumulated.
Confidence
Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday: A ridge of high pressure should maintain dry conditions and sunny skies. The freezing level is around 1700 m with alpine temperatures around -2. Winds are light from the north. Monday: The ridge flattens resulting in increasing cloud throughout the day. The freezing level should be around 1400 m. Winds are light to moderate from the west-southwest. Tuesday: A stronger system should push through in the afternoon bringing light snowfall – 5-10 cm. The freezing level is around 1000 m and winds are moderate to strong from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from the region include a few size 1-1.5 natural or human triggered slab avalanches, mainly from north through east aspects. There were also reports of small loose dry or loose wet avalanches from steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface consists of a sun crust, surface hoar, or a dusting of new snow. Below this approximately 15-20 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed into soft wind slabs at higher elevations. The new snow overlies a gamut of old surfaces which include: old wind slabs at higher elevations, fairly widespread surface hoar, and a melt-freeze crust on previously sun-exposed slopes. This interface will be something to watch as the overlying slab develops. About 35-50cm below the surface is another interface of surface hoar or a sun crust that was buried on Jan 23. It is hard to find in some areas and seems to be gaining strength where it is found, but this weakness is still on the radar of professionals in the region. The snowpack below this is generally well settled and bonded.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.