Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 26th, 2014 9:40AM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Cloudy with light snowfall. The freezing level 1400m and light southwest winds.Friday and Saturday: Cloudy with scattered snow flurries. Freezing level 1600 m. Ridge winds light southwest gusting to moderate.

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been reported as loose dry and moist avalanches running to size 1.5 in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accumulations from last week have settled out and become moist on the surface up to 2000m on all aspects. There is now 55 - 80cm of new snow on top of the March 10th crust. This crust is widespread to 2000m across the region, perhaps even higher on solar aspects. There are reports of the crust being as thick as 15cm in the south of the region, however there seems to be variability in how thick and supportive it is. As you head north in the region where the mountains are higher (temperatures were colder when the crust was forming) this crust is less likely to exist. If you are heading to the north of the region make sure you check out the South Columbia bulletin also.A facet/crust persistent weakness buried at the beginning of February, now down 70 - 200cm, has been highly variable in terms of reactivity but still shows 'sudden' results in some snowpack tests. In areas where the strong and supportive crust exists, triggering this layer has become unlikely. That said, any avalanches triggered on this deep persistent layer would be large and destructive.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent moderate southwest winds have created wind slabs in the lee of terrain features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Watch for clues of warming and back off if you observe, pinwheeling, sluffing off of cliffs and/or moist surface snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The deeply buried weak layers continue to show "sudden" results in snowpack tests. Triggers for large avalanches on these layers include cornice falls, solar warming, or hitting the wrong place in a thin snowpack area.

Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2014 2:00PM