Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 13 – 14, 2016Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Spring Conditions. If the sun comes out, the strong solar radiation will heat up the snowpack rapidly and avalanche danger will increase. New wind slabs may not be well bonded to the old surface crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Thin new wind slabs may be easy to trigger when they are exposed to strong solar radiation. Wind slabs may not be well bonded to the old surface crust.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    If the sun comes out, it wont take long for solar aspects to heat up and result in natural cornice falls.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Loose wet avalanche activity is expected to increase with exposure to strong solar radiation and climbing freezing levels.

Weather Forecast

Mostly cloudy overnight with light to moderate northerly winds developing and freezing levels down close to 1000 metres by morning. Cloudy on Thursday with periods of light snow and freezing levels climbing to 2000 metres. Overcast with convective flurries on Friday combined with light southerly winds. Freezing levels starting out near 1500 metres and rising up to at least 2000 metres. Not much of a re-freeze expected for Saturday morning, mostly sunny with freezing levels climbing to at least 2500 metres. 

Avalanche Summary

One report of a natural cornice fall size 2.0 on a northeast aspect at 2200 metres on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Forecast new snow, wind, and cooler temperatures will bring back winter to higher elevations for a day or two. Expect the old surface to re-freeze overnight and some new wind slabs may form in the lee of southwest winds. These new wind slabs may not bond well to the old hard surface. Surface crusts may break down rapidly if the sun comes out, especially on steep slopes with direct sun exposure.

Regions covered