Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Fresh wind slabs are building in unusual places. Use caution as you transition into exposed terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -11Monday: Periods of snow: accumulations 15-20cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -9 Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries / Moderate to strong wind / Alpine temperature of -7
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports indicate avalanche activity as thin windslabs in the alpine to size 1 and loose now sluffing in steep terrain to size 1.
Snowpack Summary
Around 30cm of faceted powder overlies the facets and surface hoar that was buried last weekend. Variable light to moderate winds have loaded immediate leeward features with touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show this persistent weakness has the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered, from thin rocky areas, for instance.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.