Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 28th, 2013 9:56AM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

Kootenay Boundary.

Avalanche danger may be CONSIDERABLE in the Alpine in areas with highest amounts of recent snow, such as Kootenay Pass.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Weather Forecast

Monday night: Strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -4. Very light snow.Tuesday: Light N winds. Alpine temperature near -12. Light snow.Wednesday: Strong NW winds. Alpine temperature near -8. Light snow.Thursday: Light W winds. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow.

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry avalanches and soft slabs to size 1.5 were triggered naturally and by skiers on Sunday. Explosives triggered several size 1-2 slabs on Monday, 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 is developing. 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

Storm Slabs

In areas with around 30 cm recent snow, a storm slab is reactive. In other areas, a storm slab is slowly building up. Winds have shifted snow into soft slabs on lee slopes as well.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Jan 29th, 2013 2:00PM