Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, Valhalla, Whatshan, Ymir.
New snow and southwest winds will build fresh, touchy wind slabs.
Assess bond of new snow to underlying surfaces, weak layers exist below.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Recent warm weather has caused some cornices to fall. These falls have not triggered any avalanches on the slopes below.
Looking forward: Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snowpack is currently quite variable. New snow falls on a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar or facets in sheltered areas or north aspects. The new snow is being wind redistributed by moderate southwest winds into fresh wind slabs.
Two concerning weak layers are present in the mid snowpack: facets/surface hoar or a crust from mid-February buried 30-70 cm, and facet/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 60-100 cm.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mainly cloudy, with up to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud, with scattered flurries. 10 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy with up to 8 cm of snow. 10 to 35 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
- Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow arrives with moderate to strong southwest wind. Surface hoar and facets exists beneath the new snow at higher and in sheltered locations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
Weak layers exist 40 to 100 cm deep. These layers remain a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the recent snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3