Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Heavy snow (20- 35 cm). Strong SW winds. Alpine temperature near -3.Thursday: Light snow. Light SW winds. Alpine temperature near -13.Friday: Light snow. Light winds. Alpine temperature near -12.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous size 1-2 avalanches have been triggered naturally, by skiers, explosives and vehicles over the last couple of days. In most cases, the new snow was failing on the hard crust below. Many were soft slabs where the wind had shifted the snow onto lee slopes, and several were loose dry avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Snow and wind forecast for Wednesday are expected to add to recent storm slabs, which overlie a hard supportive crust. On solar aspects, the new snow may land on a thin sun crust which formed in some areas over the last couple of days. Strong winds are likely to build touchy slabs on lee slopes. Cornices are large and fragile.
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.