Avalanche forecast

Kootenay Boundary

Apr 15 – 16, 2019Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Be wary of sunny alpine slopes, the likelihood of triggering loose wet avalanches will increase as temperatures rise through the day. Reactive pockets of fresh snow may lurk around ridges and lee terrain on alpine slopes where snow remains dry.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Fresh snow has accumulated at upper elevations. Older wind slabs may be hidden under the fresh snow. Be cautious around ridge crests and in wind loaded terrain where deposits will be deepest.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Warm temperatures and sun will increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches, especially where fresh snow has accumulated.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear / west wind, 10 km/h / alpine low -2 C / freezing level valley bottomTUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high +3 C / freezing level 2100 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks / west wind, 25 gusting to 50 km/h / alpine high +3 C / freezing level 2300 mTHURSDAY: Rain and wet flurries, 5-15 mm / southwest wind, 30 gusting to 50 km/h / alpine high +5 C / freezing level 2700 m

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, several small size 1 wind slabs were reactive to explosives, one size 3 wind slab avalanche was triggered with a very large explosive. Near Whitewater a skier triggered a windslab avalanche on a steep northwest aspect in the alpine. See the MIN report here.

Snowpack Summary

15-40 cm fell around the region since Saturday with flurries continuing through Monday. The new snow accumulated over a melt freeze crust on most aspects. On north-facing terrain above 2000 m, the new snow accumulated over another 15-30 cm wind-affected snow from early April. The snowpack is well settled below and snow is disappearing rapidly below treeline.Sun and rising freezing levels are warming the snowpack and settling new snow, the likelihood of loose wet avalanches will increase as heat penetrates into the snowpack.

Regions covered