Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, Ymir.
While the snowpack is generally expected to be stable, continually monitor and assess conditions as you travel, especially around steep, sun-exposed slopes.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, explosives triggered wind slabs up to size 1.5. Warming temperatures and solar input resulted in small loose wet avalanches on steep south-facing slopes.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface is highly variable and includes new surface hoar growth in many sheltered areas and heavily wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain. The full extent of the warming and sun is not yet known, but a sun crust is expected on steep, south-facing terrain, and a warming crust may form at elevations where the air temperature was above freezing for an extended period.
The snowpack is well-settled, dense, and generally strong. A layer of buried surface hoar may be found 60 to 80 cm below the surface in some areas but generally appears to be stable.
Treeline snow depths range from 100 to 150 cm.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mainly clear. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature near 0 °C with a temperature inversion.
Thursday
Mainly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature near 0 °C with a temperature inversion.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature near 0 °C with the temperature inversion beginning to break down through the day.
Saturday
Cloudy with snowfall up to 15 cm. 25 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- The snowpack is generally stable; it may be appropriate to step out into more complex terrain.
- Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.