Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
30 to 60 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.
Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural and rider triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported on primarily north and east aspects at treeline and above on Friday.
Here's one example from the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Strong solar radiation has formed a surface crust everywhere except north facing terrian at upper elevations.
30 to 60 cm of recent snow overlies a crust on all but north facing aspects at treeline and above where a weak layer of surface hoar may be present.
A widespread crust with 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 places where it may still be possible to trigger this layer with large loads.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0° C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5° C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7° C. Freezing level 3000 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
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
- Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- 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
30 to 60 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Expect the sunshine to trigger wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects at all elevations.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5