Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 26th, 2013 8:39AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Friday: Light flurries. Alpine temperatures -4. Moderate to strong southwesterly winds switching to northwest in the afternoon. Freezing level 1100mSaturday: Mainly dry with broken skies, winds moderate from the northwest and alpine temperatures -6.Sunday: Mainly dry with broken skies, alpine temperatures -7, winds light from the northwest.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche activity to report.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20 cm of recent new snow in the past 5 days 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.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Moderate winds from the west and southwest have created new windslabs in the lee of terrain features.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 27th, 2013 2:00PM