Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, St. Mary, Ymir.
Continuously assess conditions as you move through terrain.
Avalanches are possible where the upper snowpack feels "stiff and slabby".
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, a few isolated wind slabs up to size 1 were human triggered from steep northeast facing terrain at treeline.Rider triggering is possible where a stiffer slab exists above the late January buried weak layers and sluffing will be seen in steep terrain features.
Snowpack Summary
Exposed terrain in the alpine and treeline is variably wind-affected. In sheltered terrain a layer of surface hoar or a sun crust can be found on or just below the surface.
20 to 60 cm of faceted snow overlies a weak layer from late January. This layer consists of a crust on sun exposed slopes and a layer of surface hoar on all other aspects.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Clear periods. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with a trace of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with new snow 2 to 8 cm. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
A layer of surface hoar 20 to 60 cm deep buried at the end of January has been reactive where a slab exists above it.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2