Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, Valhalla, Whatshan, Ymir.
Wind and storm slab development will continue with new snow and wind.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few natural, skier, and explosive-triggered surface slab avalanches were reported over the weekend. These avalanches were generally no deeper than 20 cm and up to size 1.5.
No new avalanches have been reported since the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Another round of fresh snow has provided a surface refresh in many areas. Southwest winds continue redistributing recent snow, forming deeper deposits on leeward slopes at higher elevations. A crust is present at or just below the surface at lower elevations, with moist snow likely near the valley bottom where recent precipitation fell as rain.
The upper snowpack continues to settle and bond well following significant accumulation over the last two weeks.
A potential weak layer of surface hoar or facets, along with a crust, persists in the mid-snowpack, and snowpack tests continue to indicate potential instability.
The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-bonded.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
- Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
- Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent snowfall and moderate alpine winds have created wind slabs in exposed terrain at higher elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Despite a lack of recent avalanche activity on buried weak layers, snowpack tests suggest these layers remain a concern. Particularly on steep open slopes at treeline and above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5