Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kootenay Boundary.
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure off the coast of BC should maintain dry conditions and mainly sunny skies through the weekend and into next week. Patchy valley cloud is possible. Temperatures during the day should rise to around -2 at treeline. Winds are generally light from the northwest.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural and skier-triggered loose snow avalanches were reported in steep northerly terrain. There were only a couple reports of recent slab avalanches in the region. These were reported as size 1.5 human triggered avalanches, and despite their small size they picked up significant speed and ran surprisingly far.
Snowpack Summary
Approximately 15-20 cm of new snow has been redistributed into soft wind slabs at higher elevations. The new snow overlies a gamut of old surfaces which include: old wind slabs at higher elevations, fairly widespread surface hoar, and a melt-freeze crust on previously sun-exposed slopes. These surfaces will be something to watch as the overlying slab develops.About 35-50cm below the surface is an interface of surface hoar or a sun crust that was buried on Jan 23. It is hard to find in some areas and seems to be gaining strength where it is found, but this weakness is still on the radar of professionals in the region. The snowpack below this is generally well settled and bonded.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2