Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Flathead, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
Give cornices a wide margin when travelling beneath them and when on ridgelines. Avalanches are unlikely where there is a thick surface crust.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Sunday saw small (size 1) loose avalanches. The avalanches were wet out of steep, sun-exposed terrain and dry on steep, northerly alpine slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Northerly alpine slopes may still hold around 10 to 15 cm of soft, dry surface snow. Elsewhere, a thick and hard surface crust exists, which may soften with daytime warming. The thicker and harder the crust, the less likely avalanches are. Weak layers in the middle and lower snowpack are considered dormant, with no recent avalanche observations.The snowpack is rapidly melting at lower elevations.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +6 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problems
Cornices
Cornices along ridgelines are very large and looming. They weaken with progressive warming and could fail at any time.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3