Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Dec 23 – 24, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Strong westerly ridgetop winds will continue to build wind slabs on lee slopes and cross-loaded features. Rider triggering is possible, particularly in steep unsupported terrain.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will set up over the Interior regions bringing a dry, cool northwest flow Tuesday-Wednesday. The next system should arrive Wednesday night bringing snow, wind and warming. Generally, the pattern is repeating itself. Tuesday: Cloudy with some sunny breaks. Alpine temperatures -5. Ridgetop winds light, gusting strong from the West.Wednesday: Flurries. Alpine temperatures -4. Ridgetop winds light from the SW. Freezing levels rising to 1100 m.Thursday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Alpine temperatures -4. Ridgetop winds light from the South. Freezing levels 900 m.

Avalanche Summary

Natural sluffing up to size 1, widespread all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15 cm of new snow and strong westerly have winds formed pockets of soft wind slab on lee slopes. A layer of surface hoar is buried 15-20 cm down, and has been reactive with the new snow, mainly causing loose dry sluffing from steeper terrain. A little deeper (between 35 - 50 cm below the surface) you may find a weak layer of surface hoar on sheltered slopes or a crust/facet combo on steep solar aspects. This layer is dormant, and there is not a deep enough overlying slab to create a significant hazard. That said I'd recommend keeping it on the radar, especially as the snow load above increases.In general, snowpack depths are below seasonal average with many slopes below treeline still reported to be below threshold for avalanche activity. A deeper snowpack is likely in the northern part of the region.

Regions covered