Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Jan 8 – 9, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

A cautious approach and conservative decision making is essential for the forecast period. Be aware of the terrain you are riding in AND how it connects with the rest of the mountain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    1–6
    New windslabs have formed in immediate lee and cross loaded locations. The winds are strong, meaning more intense slab development and slabbing extending lower on the slopes than normal.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    New snow is consolidating into reactive storm slabs.

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Cloudy with lingering snowfall. Expect up to 40cm of total accumulations. Winds should be strong southwesterlies with freezing levels climbing to 1100m.Thursday & Friday: Cloudy skies with temperatures to between -10 and -13 with light northwest winds. 

Avalanche Summary

Isolated slabs up to 1.5 Continued sluffing in steep terrain to size 1.5.

Snowpack Summary

30-40cm of new snow has fallen recently. Moderate south/southwest winds have recently increased to strong values, magnifying the windslab development. Windslabs now extend lower into the terrain as opposed to being limited to the immediate lee of ridgelines. These windslabs are becoming reeactive to rider triggering.The January 4th interface consists predominantly of loose facets. In isolated locations (sheltered treeline and below treeline) surface hoar up to 12mm is present. There is a 1-3cm sun crust on steep south and west facing terrain. Above this interface is another surface hoar layer, creating a reactive sandwich of weak crystals. The storm snow is bonding poorly to this interface.The midpack is well bonded and strong. The November 28 surface hoar is still being found in isolated, sheltered below treeline locations buried 95-120cm. The deep crust/facet combo from early November still exists and concern remains (although unlikely) for triggering from a shallow spot.

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