Avalanche Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Frontal system crossing the region with 10 cm of new snow, moderate wind from the south, freezing level around 1500 m with alpine temperatures around -3 C.

FRIDAY: Scattered flurries with another 10 cm of snow, moderate wind from the southwest, freezing level around 1500 m with alpine high temperatures around -1 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with light flurries, light wind from the southwest, freezing level around 1200 m with alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.

The current storm has formed fresh slabs at higher elevations, as evident from this MIN report on Thursday of a skier triggered avalanche at Kootenay Pass. This avalanche was triggered on a south aspect at treeline and ran for a long distance above the recently buried crust.

No persistent slab avalanches have been observed since January 14, suggesting deep weak layers have become difficult to trigger under the current conditions.

With 15-30 cm of snow over the past three days and another 10-20 cm in the forecast for Friday, expect fresh storm and wind slabs. This snow sits above a thin crust layer that formed last weekend. We have been tracking two layers over the past month: a layer of surface hoar buried 80-120 cm below the surface and faceted crystals and crusts near the bottom of the snowpack in certain parts of the region (especially western areas such as the Rossland Range and Boundary region). Both of these layers have shown signs of being less reactive over the past 10 days.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.