Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Nov 23 – 24, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

This forecast is based on limited field data. Feel free to send any observations to [email protected].

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Wind slabs may be lingering on lee features in the alpine. Wind slab avalanches could have the potential step down to the deeper rain crust and produce larger avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    3–5
    Reports indicate that a widespread crust exits near the base of the snowpack . Where this crust is smooth or is overlayed by facets this layer might be able to produce large avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Rocks and trees poking through the thin snowpack will warm in the sun weakening the snowpack around them as temperatures rise.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations on Saturday

Weather Forecast

A high pressure ridge is now entrenched across the interior of the province, bringing dry conditions, light north winds and a temperature inversion. In the Kootenays this inversion will be strong enough to drive temperatures above freezing in the alpine.Sunday: Mainly clear skies, no precipitation, moderate winds from the north-west, freezing levels range between 1700 and 2000m.Monday: Mainly clear skies, no precipitation, moderate winds from the west, freezing levels dropping to between 1500 and 1800mTuesday: Partly cloudy, no precipitation, light winds from the south-west, freezing levels rising to between 1700 and 1900m

Avalanche Summary

We've received reports of small lose snow avalanche releasing on steep sunny aspects in the alpine as the temperatures warm.

Snowpack Summary

Between 80 to 100cm of snow can be found at treeline although observations are limited and this amount may vary dramatically across the region.Warm temperatures are encouraging storm snows from earlier in the week to settle and bonding to the underlying thin, early season snow pack.Roughly 60 to 70cm of snow is now sitting on a widespread crust from mid November with a second crust sitting just above the ground.

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