Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 21 – 22, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Isolated, small wind slabs may exist near mountain top. Best practice is to back off sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Pockets of wind slab may be found in steep terrain near mountain tops.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few small loose wet avalanches were observed on Friday. Looking forward, similar small wet avalanches may be possible with daytime warming. Riders could also find isolated wind slabs in steep shaded features at the mountain tops.

Snowpack Summary

Anywhere from 2 to 10 cm of snow accumulated on Saturday night above 1600 m with associated southwest wind. This may have produced small wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridgetop. The snow accumulated onto a hard melt-freeze crust. This crust is the snow surface below 1600 m.

The remainder of the snowpack is strong.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clear skies. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Monday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2100 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Regions covered