Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
10 to 25 cm of forecast snow Saturday night may form reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Several rider triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches were reported in steep terrain at all elevations on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 25 cm of forecast low density snow Saturday night may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 30-60 cm in isolated, sheltered areas at treeline.
A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Snow, 10 to 25 cm. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 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
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- 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
10 to 25 cm of forecast low density snow Saturday night may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Naturally triggered wet loose avalanches will begin when the new snow sees the sun for the first time.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak 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 most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5