Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 12 – 13, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger can rise very quickly with warming and solar radiation. Be aware of changing conditions and overhead hazards. Terrain choices and timing can be critical.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Periods of intense solar radiation or pronounced warming will likely result in some loose wet activity, especially on steep south facing slopes.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Areas and features that have not seen as much melt-freeze could be prone to deep slab avalanches tomorrow with the forecasted intense warming and solar radiation.

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tonight and Sunday: A ridge of high pressure is anchored over the province bringing clear skies, warm temperatures, freezing levels rising to 2000 m by the afternoon and light to moderate North West winds.Monday: Freezing levels staying relatively high overnight and rising to around 2200 m during the day. Mostly sunny with some cloudy periods and light winds from the South West. Tuesday: A low pressure system is expected to bring some light precipitation later during the day and cooler temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches reported.

Snowpack Summary

Melt-freeze cycles (below 0 Celsius overnight and warm temperatures/solar radiation during the day) has created a hard crust at the surface in most places. During the day, this crust is broken up by warm temperatures and solar radiation on all aspects up to around 2000 m and above this elevation on solar aspects. Snow stability will decrease as the day progresses, increasing the chance of cornice fall and wet loose avalanches. The late January/early February persistent weak layer is deeply buried, and has not produced avalanches in this region for some time now. However, tomorrow's intense warming and solar radiation could wake up the deep weak layer in isolated areas, like on higher alpine slopes that have not gone through as many melt-freeze cycles. I suspect this would be more the case in the Northern part of the region.

Regions covered