Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - The weather pattern is stable

Dry conditions are expected through the forecast period as another Artic high pressure system pushes southwards. Winds should be mainly light from the southwest through northwest. Freezing levels are expected to return to near valley bottom with a possible weak inversion developing on Sunday through Monday.

Explosive avalanche control produced numerous storm slab avalanches up to size 2 around Nelson on Thursday. There was also a report of a size 2 skier remotely triggered wind slab on a steep north aspect in the alpine. Earlier in the week numerous small natural and skier controlled avalanches were reported from steep open features at treeline. All of these avalanches have been failing on the recently buried layer of surface hoar.

Between 20 and 40 cm of new snow has fallen in the last week. Warm temperatures and southerly winds have encouraged the formation of isolated pockets of soft slab at and bellow treeline as well as in wind loaded alpine features. The new snow is resting on a widespread layer of surface hoar. These weak crystals sit above a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects or facets in shaded areas. Between 40 and 60 cm below the surface, the mid-December interface can be found. This also consists of surface hoar, facets, and/or a crust. Recent snowpack tests from around Kootenay Pass suggest that it could still be capable of producing human triggered avalanches. The early December rain crust can be found about 20 cm below that, up to an elevation of 1400m. This layer is thought to be gaining strength. The snowpack below is generally strong and well-settled.