Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Dribs and drabs of isolated flurries are expected in the Kootenay’s for the next few days.  High pressure sneaking up from Idaho should be firmly established by Wednesday resulting in clear skies, freezing levels at valley bottom and light variable winds.  MONDAY: 1 to 2cm of snow, freezing level at valley bottom, light variable winds. TUESDAY: 1 to 2cm of snow, freezing level at valley bottom, light variable winds.   WEDNESDAY: Clearing skies, no precipitation expected, freezing level at valley bottom, light N/NW winds. For more detailed mountain weather information visit: avalanche.ca/weather

No new activity to report from Saturday. Previous to this, recent avalanche activity has been limited to fast running loose snow avalanches on steep features and small wind slabs in the alpine.

The Kootenays picked up 5 to 10cm of cold snow Saturday night. This snow fell on a variety of old surfaces including small grain facets, surface hoar up to 14mm in size and a sun crust on steep south and southwest facing features. In the last week the region received 40 to 60cm of storm snow that remains largely unconsolidated. Below this snow you will find the mid-December crust. It has not been problematic anywhere yet, but in Kootenay Pass there is a spotty surface hoar layer on or just above this crust. This interface is down around 60cm and the surface hoar is most prevalent on north facing features  between 1800 and 2000m. At treeline the early December crust is down around 70 to 120cm. This thick and supportive crust is likely capping any deeper weaknesses in most places. There have been reports of facets on this crust in the Nelson area, so we'll want to keep our eye on it as we move into the New Year. The lower snowpack is thought to be well settled.