Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2013 8:59AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Moderate to strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow.Thursday: Moderate NW winds. Alpine temperature near -5. Light snow.Friday: Light W winds. Alpine temperature near -6. No snow.

Avalanche Summary

Small loose dry avalanches have been failing in steep terrain. In most areas, a cohesive storm slab is yet to develop. At Kootenay Pass, a storm slab exists. Explosives triggered several size 1-2 slabs on Monday there, failing on a buried crust down 20-30 cm.

Snowpack Summary

Around 15-35 cm snow overlies various old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, hard slabs and crusts. The wind has created soft slabs on lee slopes. As incremental snowfalls build up, a cohesive storm slab may develop. Deeper in the pack (about 50-60cm down), a weak interface exhibits mainly hard to no results in snowpack tests, with isolated moderate, sudden results.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Be alert for wind slabs behind terrain breaks such as ridges and ribs.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Loose dry snow can knock you off your feet or carry you into a terrain trap.

On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 30th, 2013 2:00PM