Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Monday: Periods of snow with possible sunny breaks. Kootenay Pass could be in the bullseye with as much as 30-40 cm, while other areas should expect 10-20 cm. The freezing level is around 1500 m spiking to 1800 m late in the day. Winds are moderate to strong from the SW.  Tuesday: Periods of snow (5-10 cm) with possible sunny breaks. The freezing level is around 1800 m and winds ease to light. Wednesday: Showers or flurries. The freezing level is around 1800-2000 m and winds are light.

One size 2 accidentally triggered slab avalanche was reported in the Northern Rossland Range on Saturday. This avalanche was about 40 cm deep and was triggered on a NE aspect. One person was partially buried but escaped unharmed. Reports from other parts of the region included a few size 1 skier-controlled wind slabs and some small loose wet sluffs during a brief sunny break on Saturday.

10-25 cm of new snow sits on a supportive crust at and below treeline, a breakable crust on south-facing slopes in the alpine, buried surface hoar in sheltered terrain, or wind affected surfaces. Moderate southerly winds may have created fresh dense wind slabs on exposed leeward slopes. An older buried crust can be found down 40cm extending well up into the alpine. At the same depth (around 40 cm), a buried surface hoar layer may be reactive on northerly aspects in the Rossland Range. Below this, a thick slab rests on a layer of surface hoar that was buried earlier in January. This layer is 80-130 cm deep and poses a low probability/ high consequence threat. It should remain on your radar, especially during periods of warming or rapid loading.