Kootenay Boundary

Continually assess conditions throughout the day and watch for building wind slabs.

We have uncertainty in the forecast freezing level and precipitation amounts for Wednesday.

Moderate

• The snowpack structure is generally well understood.
• Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.
• Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system.

Loose dry natural avalanches up to size 1.5 continue to be observed in steep terrain features.

Around 15 cm of new snow accompanied by strong southerly wind is expected by Wednesday afternoon. This falls over 40 to 70 cm of wind affected, settling snow that is generally bonding well to the mid December crust.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled but contains multiple crust layers with facets observed above.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy with 3 to 4 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with  up to 15 cm of snow at treeline and above. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with 4 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 50 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.