Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Steady precipitation over the coming days will gradually elevate the avalanche danger. There is uncertainty for the amount of precipitation and also for the freezing level during the period.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries, Accumulation 5-10cm / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1500m SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries, Accumulation 5-10cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1600m SUNDAY: Cloudy with flurries, Accumulation 5-10cm / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature 2 / Freezing level 2000m
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, reports indicated loose dry and wet avalanche activity from steep slopes and terrain features at tree line to size 1.5. No new avalanche observations reported on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of moist new snow is sitting on previous moist or wet snow surfaces. Recent winds from the southeast and southwest have sifted the new snow, forming isolated wind slabs in leeward terrain features and slopes. With freezing levels rising, surface snow will likely become moist through the day. Up to 40 cm of snow that fell last weekend overlies melt-freeze crusts that formed over the past few weeks.The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
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.
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.