Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
15 to 25 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
A few rider triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches and one size 1 storm slab were reported on all aspects at treeline and above on Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 25 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 30-60 cm in isolated, sheltered areas at treeline.
A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.
Weather Summary
Sunday night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 3 cm. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
15 to 25 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Wet loose avalanches will become increasingly likely when solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is buried 80 to 180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5