Avalanche Forecast

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Monday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at 900m. Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at 800m.  Wednesday: Light flurries / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at 1100m.

No recent avalanche observations have been reported in the region, but there is enough snow for avalanches at treeline and in the alpine. Wind slabs are expected to have formed on Friday night and may be widespread at higher elevations. These slabs will likely be stiffest and most reactive in higher elevation wind loaded areas. Due to the current lack of regular observations, we cannot yet issue avalanche problems or danger ratings for the region. If you are out in the mountains, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network and help us improve the forecast.

Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Snowpack depth is reported to be 120-150cm at treeline. Recent Mountain Information Network posts from the Kootenay Pass area suggest wind slabs exist on lee slopes just below ridge crest; however, we are unsure of their reactivity or the distribution of the problem throughout the region. A thick crust from mid-November is down around 70cm and recent reports suggest the layer is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. Below this crust layer the snowpack is reported to be moist or wet to the ground at treeline elevation. The snowpack tapers off drastically below treeline and the threshold for avalanches is likely around 1700m elevation.